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Mars Rovers Dodge NASA Cuts

Budget called for 1 to hibernate, 1 to go part-time

By Lucas Laursen,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 26, 2008 7:10 AM CDT
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(Newser) – NASA has spared its far-flung Mars rovers from budget cuts, reports the Washington Post, after its administrator got wind of the plan to hibernate Spirit and roll Opportunity back to part time. "Closing down either of the rovers is not on the table," his spokesman said, and underlings are looking elsewhere for cuts.

"Where we are is where we were a week ago: The budget is tight, and we've got two aging but productive rovers on the surface of Mars doing good science," said the chief scientist. Cost overruns of $100 million on the two rovers’ replacement, the Mars Science Laboratory, have forced NASA to squeeze other Mars programs, including the long-lived Mars Odyssey.

NASA's Mars Exploration rover Spirit is shown on the 1,277th Martian day in this Aug. 6, 2007, file photo. NASA's administrator overruled plans to hibernate the rovers due to budget cuts.
NASA's Mars Exploration rover Spirit is shown on the 1,277th Martian day in this Aug. 6, 2007, file photo. NASA's administrator overruled plans to hibernate the rovers due to budget cuts.   (AP Photo/NASA)
In this image provided by NASA a promontory nicknamed Cape Verde can be seen jutting out from the walls of Victoria Crater in this approximate false-color picture taken by the panoramic camera on NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity Oct. 20, 2007. The rover took this picture more than a month...
In this image provided by NASA a promontory nicknamed "Cape Verde" can be seen jutting out from the walls of Victoria Crater in this approximate false-color picture taken by the panoramic camera on NASA's...   (AP Photo/NASA)
Illustration of one of the Mars rovers. NASA's administrator overruled plans to hibernate the rovers during budget cuts.
Illustration of one of the Mars rovers. NASA's administrator overruled plans to hibernate the rovers during budget cuts.   (NASA/JPL-Caltech)
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Not the first time NASA has backed down from canceling a popular program
Los Angeles Times

Sunk costs make continued operations cost-effective
New Scientist

 
NASA • Mars • budget • Opportunity • Spirit • rover • Mars rover • Mars Science Laboratory • Mars Odyssey • Michael Griffin • NASA administrator

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