Mars rover, Global Surveyor, Odyssey missions extended

[kane007]

Good news, again!<br /><br /><b>Spaceflight Now</b> 2006/09/26<br /><br />NASA's Mars robotic missions are performing so well, they are being prepared for additional overtime work.<br /><br />The team operating the twin Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, since January 2004, won approval for an additional year of exploration. NASA funded the extensions on recommendations from an outside panel of scientists. NASA also is adding two more years of operations for Mars Global Surveyor, which has been orbiting Mars since 1997, and the Mars Odyssey orbiter, at the red planet since 2001.<br /><br />These mission extensions will begin Oct. 1, 2006. The spacecraft beginning extended missions have already completed a successful prime mission plus years of additional service. The extensions occur when NASA's newest Mars spacecraft, named the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, is about to begin its main science phase.<br /><br />"Each of these missions increases the value of the others and of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter," said Doug McCuistion, director of NASA's Mars Exploration Program, NASA Headquarters, Washington. "By extending these missions, we gain very cost-effective additional benefits from the investments in developing them and getting them to Mars."<br /><br />Each orbiter has a different set of instruments, and the spacecraft complement each other in helping scientists understand Mars. Also, observations by the rovers on the ground validate interpretation of information from the orbiters. Observations by the orbiters allow extrapolation from what the rovers find in small areas. The orbiters support current and future surface missions with landing-site assessments and communication relays.<br /><br />Both rovers are still healthy, more than 31 months into what was originally planned as a three-month exploration of their landing areas. Provided they remain operable, their fourth mission extension w

 

[qso1]

Sounds good and I'm not suprised. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[docm]

When the mission finally ends lets hope GM or Ford hires the design team. Maybe then their cars will survive a Michigan winter <img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[thalion]

I daresay for $400 million you could buy a car that would *never* break down.<br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />

 

[docm]

It cost a lot less than that. <br /><br />We have a 1990 Dodge Grand Caravan the wife drives to work that's still rinning great after 260,000 miles. 3.3L V6, 4-sp auto & all the goodies still work and it gets />20 mpg.<br /><br />IMO using synthetic lubes and regular maintenance are a lot of it, but this is the 3rd Dodge we've had to make it />200k.<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[jmilsom]

Great news. The success of these three missions, so far over and above what they set out to achieve is awe inspiring! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[brellis]

Steve Squyres says Mars Odyssey went into "safe" mode as of Dec. 7 so we won't be getting many Rover images soon, since they've been using Odyssey as a relay.<br /><br />Assuming MGS is done, two big questions arise: <br /><br />1) If they start using MRO as the main relay for the rovers, does that affect the orbit schedule for MRO in a compromising way?<br /><br />2) If both MGS and Odyssey are done, should they launch a dedicated set of relays for current and future rovers? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#ff0000"><em><strong>I'm a recovering optimist - things could be better.</strong></em></font> </p> </div>