New Funding for Mars Bots
Everybody’s favorite robots, Spirt and Opportunity, are getting a new lease on life as NASA has agreed to fund the rover project for yet another six months:
The two robots have performed well-beyond the expected term of the project and likely will give a shot in the arm to the growing robotics industry. The project was originally expected to terminate in April after three months, but because the robots continued to function, NASA extended the project. Earlier this month, the rovers endured the climax of the Martian winter and lost contact with Earth for 12 days, but contact was recently recovered.So far, the two vehicles have traveled more than 3.2 kilometers and dug up mineral evidence that supports the theory that water once existed on the planet.
Scientists, however, said some fatigue has begun to set in. If the robots fail, NASA will pull the plug on funds.
Compare and contrast to the Euro-mission Beagle 2.
Yeah, because we know *cough*Mars Climate Observer*cough* that US probes never *cough*Mars Polar Lander*cough* fail.