Brilliant
Good stuff!
NASA's Opportunity rover today breaks the "longevity record" for operating on the surface of Mars, passing the six years and 116 days set by the agency's Viking 1 Lander. Opportunity arrived on the Red Planet on 24 January 2004. Its twin Spirit arrived three weeks earlier, but has been silent since 22 March this year after …
These rovers have been one of the most amazing things NASA has done in recent years and in my opinion should be followed up. Not with the "nuclear tank" that's being prepared at the moment but more of the same type of rover - damn, it works!
NASA should commision something like a dozen more of these, perhaps with different equipment fits for different locations but keeping the basic chassis and landing system.
This would be an excellent way to explore the red planent and would save millions.