On Sunday , January 24 , NASA ’s Mars rover Opportunity attain 12 Earth years on the airfoil of Mars , having landed on the same day in 2004 .

It was budgeted to last 90 day , with a lifespan of a few calendar month , before it was think its   solar control board would be covered in dust and check cultivate . But thanks to a number of cistron , including wind on Mars ,   the tenacious scouter has been able to endure the harsh Martian environment for much , much longer .

The scouter has begin to show its age , becoming more unmanageable to direct and have memory warehousing problem . Also , two of its scientific instruments have now stopped function completely . problem aside , though , Opportunity continues to bring out an abundance of scientific discipline .

chance is currently exploring a region plentiful in clay minerals that would have formed in wet conditions . The area is calledMarathon Valley ,   since it ’s 42 km ( 26 geographical mile )   –   the Olympian marathon distance   –   from Opportunity ’s landing place situation in Eagle Crater .

" With good for you ability levels , we are search forward to completing the work in Marathon Valley this year and go on onward with Opportunity , " Exploration Rover Project Manager John Callas said in astatement .

The rover is presently get rid of surface Earth’s crust from John Rock in the valley , and the texture and composition are being examined with the utilisation of its machinelike arm .

The Martian winter started in January , so the solar energy that the rover is currently receiving is importantly lower than usual . The squad positioned the scouter in a more favourable sun - facing orientation course , which has increased the amount of power the solar venire are yield , allowing for power - consuming operations like drilling and rock - grinding .

" chance has stayed very combat-ready this winter , in part because the solar regalia have been much clean than in the preceding few winters , ” said Callas .

The wanderer is in full funded until the end of 2016 , and theJet Propulsion Laboratoryis presently working on the next telephone extension proposal . In the last review article , Opportunity take in the high rating of any ongoing Mars mission .