NASA`s Mars Rovers back in business

Recent reports indicate that NASA's Mars Rovers are back in business and will continue to explore Mars after enduring the dust storm that might have doomed the rovers by decreasing the light energy needed for the rovers to operate. With skies gradually brightening, the solar-powered Rovers Spirit and Opportunity recently resumed driving and other operations that had been suspended during the dust storm. "The rovers are in good health and in good shape," said John Callas, the Rover project manager at NASA's jet propulsion laboratory in Pasadena. "Things have improved since the dust storm. During the storm, the rovers would be active for a short while, and in order to save power, they would be in hibernation for the rest of the time. "At the darkest part of the storm, Opportunity had only 128 watt-hours of energy. Today, it has about 350 watt-hours of energy, so almost three times as much now," Callas said. "The most energy that the Rovers have ever seen in their 3 1/2 years on Mars is about 900 watt-hours of energy." It is a positive sight to see the rovers active again and wanting to do some more exploring.