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Opportunity set a record for time spent on Mars.. / May 24, 2010 /

Mars rover "Opportunity» has established a record length of stay on the surface of another planet. By 20 May the apparatus worked on Mars for more than 6 years and 116 days, «ahead of» Viking 1 ". A Brief History of the host «Opportunity» on the Red Planet is shown in the portal Universe Today.

«Opportunity» landed on the surface of Mars on Jan. 25, 2004. Three weeks prior to the Red Planet villages «Spirit». Mars rover take their energy from solar panels, so in winter, when the region where there are machines, gets very little light, they do not move and do not conduct research. Both rovers are equipped with multiple cameras and instruments to perform the analysis of components of Martian soil and atmosphere.

It was planned that the mission of both vehicles will last 90 days, but the «Opportunity» continue to work until now. «Spirit» from March 22, 2010 was translated into hibernation. In April 2009, the rover was stuck in the ground, and despite all attempts to get professional camera, he is still in the sand trap (although scientists managed to move the «Spirit» for a few tens of centimeters).

Now on the territory, where he stopped rover, Fall, so scientists and decided to «lull» apparatus. If it becomes operational again when spring comes, then the rank of staff, longer than other worked on the surface of another planet, goes to him.

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