The Mars rover Spirit has currently been exploring Mars for two Martian years (longer than three years on Earth). Spirit arrived at a field of boulders and used solar power to transmit data to Earth when the Odyssey orbiter passed overhead. Spirit also conducted a communications test with the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter. "Mars Express will provide backup communications during the entry, descent, and landing of the Phoenix mission, due to arrive near the north pole of Mars on the United States' Memorial Day weekend of 2008."
Communication with Mars Express demonstrates the value of having multiple spacecrafts at Mars.
http://www.marstoday.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=25691
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