The Mars rover "Opportunity" just celebrated its twelfth anniversary on the Red Planet, landing (or bouncing, really) on January 24, 2004. NASA had planned three months for Opportunity, but keeping the rover's solar panels facing the sun and conducting "dust-clearing events" have allowed NASA to extend the go-getter's mission 48 times longer (currently).
Winter solstice has passed so more sunshine will be available for Opportunity. Since 2011, it has been investigating a 14-mile wide crater called Endeavor. Researchers are using Opportunity's rock abrasion tool to scrape the crust off the surface of a rock. Then, instruments in the rover's arm can determine the composition.
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