The Mars Exploration Rover Project: 2005 surface operations results

Abstract

The twin rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, of the Mars Exploration Rover Project successfully landed on the surface of Mars in January 2004, and began an unprecedented period of surface exploration. Spirit’s landing in Gusev Crater, and its subsequent journeys to the Columbia Hills provided ample evidence for the advantages of mobile rovers over fixed landers. Opportunity's “hole in one” landing in the 20 m Eagle Crater with the essential evidence to answer the science questions for Meridiani lying meters away underscored the advantage of surface mobility. The project skillfully dealt with a host of challenges after landing, including Flash memory problems and the cold and dim light of Martian winter, to successfully extend the reach of Earth-bound scientists to two new locations on Mars. With the overwhelming success of the prime mission, NASA's decision to continue the MER journey of exploration has achieved results undreamed of before launch.