Fact Sheet
Rocky Path
Thousands of angular rocks, sculpted by Martian winds -- and perhaps water -- clutter the slopes of the Columbia Hills, where the Mars rover Spirit continues to explore. NASA recently gave Spirit and its twin rover, Opportunity, an 18-month extension to continue their studies. Both rovers already have exceeded their planned lifetimes by one year. Mission scientists caution that despite the extension, because of their ages and the harsh Martian environment, either rover could quit working at any time. [Credit: NASA/JPL]
|