MER Update 103109 - Spirit Overcomes Setbacks, Opportunity Takes Magical Meteorite Tour

Description

The Mars Exploration Rover mission logged another textbook-rewriting month in October 2009 with more discoveries of geologic gems, new robot achievements balanced with equal amounts of challenges and frustrations overcome, topped off with special honors.

Spirit spent most of the month overcoming a series of “mental” and physical challenges, but is hopefully awaiting the green light from NASA headquarters to begin the process of extracting itself from the sandy pit in which it's been mired since April. Opportunity, meanwhile, took its passengers on a magical meteorite tour as it continued on its long journey to the still distant Endeavour Crater. And on Earth, their tireless science leader, Steve Squyres, was honored with the Carl Sagan Award for excellence in public communication from the American Society of Astronomers (AAS).

Original URL

http://www.planetary.org/news/2009/1031_Mars_Exploration_Rovers_Update_Spirit.html

http://www.planetary.org/news/2009/1031_Mars_Exploration_Rovers_Update_Spirit.html