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 rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, far exceeded their 90-day design life, operating for years and covering unprecedented distances, with Opportunity traveling nearly 30 miles before its demise in 2018.
The rovers provided definitive, groundbreaking proof of past liquid water on Mars, discovering evidence of fresh water, ancient hot springs, and acidic/salty pools, which revolutionized scientists' understanding of the Red Planet.
Their discoveries and the operational experience gained paved the way for more advanced subsequent missions like Curiosity and Perseverance, establishing new practices for Mars exploration and inspiring future generations of scientists.

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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.