14 DAY TRIAL // The NASA Mars Exploration Rover (MER) Opportunity is currently heading closer to the rim of the Endeavour Crater, on the surface of the Red Planet. After studying the chemical composition of two rocks near the massive crater, the machine is now looking forward to its next winter.
Unlike its twin, Spirit, this explorations robot is not forced to shut down and enter safe mode during the Martian winter, primarily because it continues to receive enough sunlight at its location throughout the year. Its counterpart on the other side of Mars was located at a higher latitude.
The only remaining rover on the Red Planet has been driving towards Endeavour for the past three years, and it finally made its way here just a few weeks ago. Mission controllers at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), in Pasadena, California, now expect a rich treasure trove of data, SpaceRef reports.