NASA’s Twin Spirit and Opportunity Probes Leave Lasting Legacy 20 Years Later

The two spacecraft landed on Mars in January 2004, giving scientists the first evidence the red planet once held water.

Jack Daleo

Thursday, January 25, 2024 at 04:00 PM ET

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An artist’s concept depicts one of the twin rovers on the Martian surface. [Courtesy: NASA]

Key Takeaways:

NASA's twin Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, far exceeded their 90-day design life, operating for years (Spirit until 2010, Opportunity until 2018) and fundamentally transforming Mars science over the past two decades.
The rovers provided groundbreaking and definitive proof of liquid water on ancient Mars, uncovering evidence of fresh water, hot springs, and various acidic or salty pools.
Their extensive scientific discoveries and engineering innovations paved the way for subsequent advanced missions like Curiosity and Perseverance, directly influencing current and future human exploration plans for Mars.

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Two decades ago, a pair of NASA rovers changed the way scientists study Mars and the solar system forever.

January marks the 20th anniversary of twin rovers Spirit and Opportunity’s arrival on the Martian surface, where the vehicles searched for the first evidence of water on the red planet. Designed to last 90 days, Spirit was active until 2010, while Opportunity’s final communication came 15 years after landing.