Yes, at the very least we have a weather station. I wouldn't be surprised if it could survive another five years in that role. It's still useful data, but at the same time it should save a lot of money because you don't need many personnel to run a weather station.
They wont fund it for 5 years as a weather station. Maybe one but afterwards they will more than likely retire it.
They wont fund it for 5 years as a weather station. Maybe one but afterwards they will more than likely retire it.These rovers have broken so many records and given back insane amounts of science. But they are expensive to operate and a 90 day mission lasting this long means big bills and with more missions on the horizon I think they are in budget risk even if they could move.
Another thing they could do is just spin one wheel and see what comes to the surface! Poor-man's grinding/digging tool.
The only reason you terminate a spacecraft is when it runs out of consumables (GEOs, the JAXA comet hunter, Galileo). You're way off. Obviously there won't be more people than necessary, but they'll never euthanize it.
FWIW, I see from NASA Watch that the MSL has been named 'Curiosity'.Is there even a 'NET' launch date for this mission yet?
Pioneer? Voyager? MGS? DIXI? The only reason you terminate a spacecraft is when it runs out of consumables (GEOs, the JAXA comet hunter, Galileo). You're way off. Obviously there won't be more people than necessary, but they'll never euthanize it.
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/freespirit/