Opportunity rover survives Martian winter for eighth time It has been the week of long-lived space hardware: first came the news of Voyager 1's thrusters working after 37 years without use and now NASA's cautiously suggested that the Opportunity rover on Mars will be fit to roll into its 14th year of red planet operations. Two big threats imperil Opportunity's ongoing operations. The …
it is hard to beat it's historic generosity to man (and woman) kind in all the benefits we have derived from President John Kennedy's decision back in the day.
From Teflon to eye-popping pictures from Hubbel , adjustable smoke detectors, artificial limbs, baby formula, cell-handset cameras, computer mouse (stolen by Jobs), cordless tools, ear thermometer, firefighting equipment, instant dried food (far better than Army field rations of past years), invisible braces, transformational distance communications, foams and glues, MRI and CAT scanners, boot insoles, skiing boots, solar devices, UV-blocking visual aids, water recycling and purification filters. (I am sure there are more on Google)
And a Thank You to American Taxpayers who made it all possible.
When Curiosity's nuclear battery runs out.
RTGs generally deliver useful power for decades, based on the Pioneer 11-12 and Voyager 1 & 2 examples. I'd expect something else would give out on Curiosity first, like its wheels, batteries, or flash memory.
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