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Photo Credit: NASA/JPLSlide 1 of 21
Amazing Mars Discoveries By Rovers Spirit & Opportunity
The robotic rovers Spirit and Opportunity arrived on Mars in January 2004 to search for clues of past water activity. They were designed to last three months. But the plucky explorers far exceeded anyone's expectations. Spirit kept chugging for more than six years, finally ceasing communications with Earth in March 2010; Opportunity is still going strong. The data the pair has beamed back not only shed light on Mars' past and present, but could also help humans prepare for life there in the future. -
Born in a Fiery Explosion
Photo Credit: NASA/JPL/CornellSlide 2 of 21 -
Born in a Fiery Explosion
Spirit's discovery of basaltic rock at its landing site, Gusev Crater, strongly suggested the region was the product of a volcanic explosion during which magma and water had mixed.Slide 3 of 21 -
Dust Devils
Photo Credit: NASA/JPLSlide 4 of 21 -
Dust Devils
In 2005, Spirit managed to film a bevy of dust devils twisting across the Martian landscape. The clip gave scientists a rare glimpse into one of the few active processes still shaping the surface of Mars today.Slide 5 of 21 -
Photographing Earth-like Clouds
Photo Credit: NASA/JPL.Slide 6 of 21 -
Photographing Earth-like Clouds
Among their many firsts, the rovers photographed Earth-like clouds in the Martian sky for the first time from the planet's surface.Slide 7 of 21 -
Alien Meteorite
Photo Credit: NASA/JPL/CornellSlide 8 of 21