Brazbit
01-04-2005, 01:26 PM
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6782504/
Like martian versions of the Energizer Bunny the Spirit and Opportunity rovers continue to explore Mars. Originally designed to last 90 days the little rovers keep sending back new and exciting images and have boldly gone where no rover was planned to go.
Recently Spirit has found a rock made of unexpected materials which may or may not lead to proof of the existence of past water on that section of Mars.
The Opportunity rover has made its way to its dropship's heat shield and is analyzing it now. This unexpected bonus could prove to be extremely valuable to future Mars missions.
I hope these little rovers have helped prove the viability of missions to Mars and have in their own little way contributed to a possible manned mission. I have always been excited by space exploration but hanging out in low Earth orbit is not exactly the things dreams are made of. Unfortunately having been born after everyone grew bored with watching manned moon missions and the government stopped sending them it seems hopeless sometimes that humanity will ever get off its collective duffs and go somewhere.
Like martian versions of the Energizer Bunny the Spirit and Opportunity rovers continue to explore Mars. Originally designed to last 90 days the little rovers keep sending back new and exciting images and have boldly gone where no rover was planned to go.
Recently Spirit has found a rock made of unexpected materials which may or may not lead to proof of the existence of past water on that section of Mars.
The Opportunity rover has made its way to its dropship's heat shield and is analyzing it now. This unexpected bonus could prove to be extremely valuable to future Mars missions.
I hope these little rovers have helped prove the viability of missions to Mars and have in their own little way contributed to a possible manned mission. I have always been excited by space exploration but hanging out in low Earth orbit is not exactly the things dreams are made of. Unfortunately having been born after everyone grew bored with watching manned moon missions and the government stopped sending them it seems hopeless sometimes that humanity will ever get off its collective duffs and go somewhere.