NASA says today that there are no plans to turn off or hibernate either of the two Mars Rovers because of budget cuts. I reported these cuts yesterday when I first heard of them.
NASA has apparently rescinded a letter recommending cuts in the Mars Rover program in order to offset $4 million in proposed budget reductions. The budget reductions were to offset cost overruns in the program developing the next Mars rover mission.
Yesterday, scientists in the Rover program said they would have to hibernate one, probably the Spirit rover, and reduce the operation of the second rover, Opportunity, to limited duty.
Today however, NASA’s statement says that neither rover will be shut down. I think this is a good reconsideration on their part. These rovers still have much exploring and scientific investigation to accomplish. And the price is relatively cheap. Hurray!
March 25, 2008 at 1:38 pm
That’s great news.
I think it would be an insult to the rovers and the amazing people who operate them to ‘hibernate’ them – they have done so much both exploring Mars and getting ordinary people really interested in the Red Planet.
And in NASA terms $4 million is nothing.
March 25, 2008 at 2:26 pm
I agree. I was a bit miffed when I heard yesterday that they might be hibernated. NASA may have realized it would be a public relations problem if they went through with it.