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after six years of cruising and

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exploring the red planet with its twin

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opportunity the spirit rover's days may

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be numbered

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surpassing its intended lifespan by more

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than five and a half years the beloved

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robot energy source is depleting and

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come spring the rover could become

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inoperable nine months ago spirit's

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wheels broke through a crusty surface

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layer and became trapped in the loose

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sand hidden underneath

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efforts to free the rover have barely

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budged it and scientists fear they've

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run out of maneuvers to try this is

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worsened by the fact that the solar

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powered rover is trapped in mars

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southern hemisphere where it's currently

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autumn

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and where precious sunlight is declining

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each day

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additionally spirit is tilted in a way

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that does not offer its onboard panels

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the best position to collect the

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necessary solar energy to power its

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operations and generate enough heat to

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survive the planet's frigid winters

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scientists are still working to improve

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spirit's angle in the hopes that rover

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might be able to collect enough power to

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continue doing research from its stuck

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position

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something that lasts almost six years

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when it is only supposed to last 90 days

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you got to be joyful that that thing has

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been so tremendously successful

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meanwhile spirit's sister rover

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opportunity keeps rolling along

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currently it's making the seven mile