Martian Rovers Survive Red Planets Wrath

(Hat Tip: Space Pragmatism)

Not too long ago NASA's rovers Spirit and Opportunity found themselves fighting to survive a global dust storm on the red, barren planet.

It was unknown whether or not the rovers would persevere through the storm, but after facing the worst from father Mars, it seems as if the rovers may yet continue to roll on after all.

(JPL/NASA News Release) After six weeks of hunkering down during raging dust storms that limited solar power, both of NASA's Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, have resumed driving. [...]

"Weather and power conditions continue to improve, although very slowly for both rovers," said John Callas of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif, project manager for the rovers. With the improved energy supplies, both rovers are back on schedule to communicate daily. Opportunity had previously been conserving energy by going three or four days between communications.

Despite the fact that this is definitely great news to hear for NASA, the fact that the rovers were able to survive the red planet's fury gives humanity hope that they can one day survive upon the brutal crimson landscape.

Scientists are already learning a lot about Martian weather, and hopefully that data can be applied to future Martians (of the human kind) who will one day call this desert world home.



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