[X] My Assistant

[Guest_Sunspot_*]

http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2005/apr/H..._extension.html

NASA has approved up to 18 more months of operations for Spirit and Opportunity, the twin Mars rovers that have already surprised engineers and scientists by continuing active exploration for more than 14 months.

[MizarKey]

I think I'm going to need a larger hard drive...I've got less than 1gb left and 18 more months of images to d/l - not that I'm complaining...

[tedstryk]

Of course, my understanding is this just means 18 more months are approved now, not that the rovers will be turned off in 18 months. I hope that if we still have rovers (or a rover) in 18 months, the mission will be extended again.. But we can worry about that one next year.

[David]

Of course, my understanding is this just means 18 more months are approved now, not that the rovers will be turned off in 18 months.  I hope that if we still have rovers (or a rover) in 18 months, the mission will be extended again..  But we can worry about that one next year. 

Well... generally in politics you want to get ahead of the game, and not wait until options are decided for you. It is probably not a bad idea -- if you think that the rovers will survive another year and a half -- to start collecting names and contact information for people who will be involved in making that decision, building networks of people who can petition for a further extension, and figuring how best to make the case for continued operation.