How is Mars Rover Opportunity Still Alive? | Space News

Today, we review one of the great ongoing mysteries in the history of Mars exploration. In January of 2004, the Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity arrived at the red planet about three weeks apart. Due to the extreme dustiness of the Martian environment, it was believed that the rovers would be hindered by dust accumulation on their solar panels and were only given anticipated lifespans of 90 days each. Fast Forward more than eleven years to new. For reasons that no planetary scientist has successfully explained, the Rover Opportunity is still alive and transmitting data to scientists on Earth. In this , we explain what this anomaly reveals about the electrical nature of dust raising events on Mars.\r
\r
Errata: source for quote on screen from 3:48 to 4:01 is \r
\r
March 18, new NASA report on mysterious dust cloud and aurora in Mars atmosphere: \r
\r
2008 New Scientist report on Opportunitys mysterious cleaning: \r
\r
Previous Space News on the new observation of baffling Martian plumes: \r
\r
Want to network with other like-minded individuals? Join us at EUnew Conference: Paths of Discovery, June 25-29, Sheraton Phoenix Downtown. Start your journey here: \r
\r
Subscribe to Thunderbolts Update newsletter: \r
The Thunderbolts Project Home: \r
Essential Guide to the Electric Universe: \r
Facebook: \r
Electric Universe by Wal Thornhill: \r
Electric Universe T-shirts and Gifts: