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Podcasts Take Two
Spirit: The little Mars rover that could, 10 years later
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Jun 11, 2013
Listen • 4:16
Spirit: The little Mars rover that could, 10 years later
The Mars Spirit rover made some big discoveries on Mars, but the mission almost failed right out of the gate and suffered many setbacks along the way.
An artist's concept portrays a NASA Mars Exploration Rover on the surface of Mars. Two rovers have been built for 2003 launches and January 2004 arrival at two sites on Mars. Each rover has the mobility and toolkit to function as a robotic geologist.
An artist's concept portrays a NASA Mars Exploration Rover on the surface of Mars. Two rovers have been built for 2003 launches and January 2004 arrival at two sites on Mars. Each rover has the mobility and toolkit to function as a robotic geologist.
(
Courtesy NASA/JPL-Caltech
)

The Mars Spirit rover made some big discoveries on Mars, but the mission almost failed right out of the gate and suffered many setbacks along the way.

Ten years ago, NASA launched a rover named Spirit on a mission to Mars. It was one of two robotic vehicles sent that year to study the red planet. The Spirit rover taught us a lot, but as KPCC's Science Reporter Sanden Totten found, the mission almost failed right out of the gate.