NASA’s Opportunity rover marks 9th year on MarsJanuary 25, 2012 - 19:52 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - NASA’s exploration rover Opportunity entered its historic ninth year of service on Mars today, January 25 having already driven over 21 miles and helped boffins make groundbreaking scientific discoveries on the unforgiving world, The Register reported. The roving robot touched down in Eagle Crater on the Red Planet on January 25, 2004, three weeks after its twin Spirit, which NASA lost contact with in 2010. Opportunity got off to a cracking start: it found evidence of a “wet environment” and completed its three-month mission as originally planned, but the plucky bot wasn’t done there. In 2008, Opportunity set course for the 14-mile-wide Endeavour Crater, an area of Mars rich in geological deposits from a much earlier period than anything it had come across before. Three years later it finally arrived at the site and struck gold almost straightaway, with the discovery of a hydrated calcium sulfate vein that provided the clearest proof yet that water once flowed on Mars. Opportunity is now taking a breather for its fifth Martian winter, sitting on the sun-facing outcrop of Greeley Haven which will allow its dust laden solar panels to suck up enough Sun juice to keep it active. The rover will stay there until mid-2012, said NASA, gathering data on iron-containing minerals, monitoring wind changes at various scales and trying to work out whether the interior of the planet is molten. Opportunity’s next perilous-sounding trip in mid-2012 will be to seek out clay along the edge of Martian crater Endeavour. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Viva-MTS: Tech solutions to modernize infrastructure of border village The border village has been the focus of Viva-MTS and the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Values since 2015. Ucom's fixed network launched in Artashat To mark this occasion, the company has introduced a special offer exclusively for Artashat residents. “By Your Side”: IDBank's new support program for displaced Artsakh citizens IDBank is launching a long-term social support program for forcibly displaced Artsakh residents. The Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life charity The companies inform that the May beneficiary of The Power of One Dram is the “Road of Life” charitable organization. |