Science and Exploration

NASA Opportunity Rover: 11 Years on Mars and Counting

By Marc Boucher
Status Report
January 26, 2015
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NASA Opportunity Rover: 11 Years on Mars and Counting
NASA Opportunity on Mars 11 Years.
NASA

The Mars Opportunity rover has driven 25.9 miles (41.7 kilometers) since it landed in the Meridiani Planum region of Mars on Jan. 25, 2004 (Universal Time, which was Jan. 24, PST). That is farther than any other off-Earth surface vehicle has driven.
The rover’s work on Mars was initially planned for three months. During that prime mission and for more than a decade of bonus performance in extended missions, Opportunity has returned compelling evidence about wet environments on ancient Mars.

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