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Episode details

Radio 4,22 Nov 2006,30 mins

Mars Rovers

Frontiers

Available for over a year

In this edition of Frontiers, Peter Evans meets the pioneering duo who have surpassed all of NASA's expectations in our quest to find life on Mars. The Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, are about to celebrate their third anniversary on the martian surface, which is remarkable given the fact they were only expected to last three months. Now well into middle age, and feeling a little bit arthritic, they are still providing scientists on Earth with extraordinary insights into the Martian environment and providing clues that may finally answer the question of whether life exists on Mars. Peter also talks to the scientists who are designing the robot explorers of the future and have been inspired by Spirit and Opportunity's incredible success.

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