Spirit

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mars2003_rover

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NGCI Mars Rover – IBMS: #026356NGCUS Five Year on Mars – Ep Code: 3963

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• Launch date:  10 Junio  2003

• Orbital Insertion:  31 December 2011

• End of mission: 4  January  2004

• Agency: NASA

• URL Oficial

One of two rovers launched in 2003 to explore Mars and search for signs of past life, Spirit far outlasted her planned 90-day mission. Among her myriad discoveries, Spirit found evidence that Mars was once much wetter than it is today and helped scientists better understand the Martian wind.

In May 2009, the rover became embedded in soft soil at a site called “Troy” with only five working wheels to aid in the rescue effort. After months of testing and carefully planned maneuvers, NASA ended efforts to free the rover and eventually ended the mission on May 25, 2011