NGC (2011)
EXCERPT
sol 1899 Spirit mission become rescue mission. [sol = one day of mars]
3000 million miles away the rover waited for instructions from back home.
Life on Mars has always been more struggle for Spirit than Opportunity.
OPPORTUNITY got a quick start in January 2004, after the 7 months journey from Earth.
On other side of Mars, SPIRIT landed three weeks ahead of Opportunity.
Spirit is in southern hemisphere in the Mars.
In March 2010 Spirit did not call home for schedule communication session.
No longer able to capture enough solar energy to wakeup in the morning, (it was winter at Mars)
the rover likely went in hibernation mode.
No survival heaters, no power to communicate.
...
In April 2011, they began a final all out effort to contact.
IN May 25th they were down to their final effort.
She didn't call back.Spirit's time one Mars may have been done (Johan Callas, Project Manager)
There's still now way of knowing to sure if Spirit is dead or alive.
But there's virtually no chance now.
A long after when both rovers finally quit for good they will be sitting on the surface of planet where little has changed for billion of years.
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