While fates of the Phoenix lander and others listed here are likely sealed, NASA still has its resilient rover Opportunity operating on the Martian surface. But Opportunity’s twin, Spirit, has met its end after years of service.
NASA scientists announced May 24, 2011, that they will no longer attempt to contact the stuck and silent Spirit rover.
Opportunity is in good condition and has been making steady progress across the Martian surface after exploring several craters.
Along with Opportunity, NASA’s Mars rocket Curiosity is also exploring the Red Planet today. NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and Mars Odyssey orbiter are still in good condition, taking images and observations of the planet, including some of their fallen comrades.
These current denizens of Mars won’t be the only spacecraft there for much longer though, as NASA prepares to launch its Mars Science Laboratory (dubbed “Curiosity”), in 2011. Another mission, currently still in the planning phase, would bring samples of Martian dirt back to Earth.
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