MER-A (Spirit) and MER-B (Opportunity) missions :
Mars Exploration Rover (A and B) are two missions from the NASA (National
Aeronautics and Space Administration) to explore Mars surface with two
robotic rovers.
MER-A (which name is Spirit) was launch on 10th, June 2003 and MER-B (Opportunity)
on 8th, July 2003.
Spirit has landed without any problem on 4th, January 2004 in the
Gussev crater and has begun exploration. It has sent first high
definition and coloured pictures from the Red Planet. At the time
(2006/01/18), it has traveled about 6.1 kilometers (3.79 miles) during
722 martian days (sols).
Opportunity rover has also landed softly on 25th, January 2004 in
a small crater of the Meridiani Planum area. Rocks in this area
have revealed possible past presence of water.
The total distance covered at the time (2006/01/20) is about 6.5
kilometers (4.04 miles) during 707 sols.
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