It’s an "A plus" and job well done for the Spirit and Opportunity rovers.
The rovers have completed their primary mission requirements and are now headed for some extra credit.
"Both vehicles are in their extended mission period, and we hope it will be
long and just as exciting as the primary mission."
Spirit's travels have it aiming for the Columbia Hills.
The target is more than 2 kilometers southeast of its landing site in Gusev Crater.
Opportunity, which sent back evidence of liquid water on Meridiani Planum, is headed for its own bonus round.
The rover is driving eastward towards Endurance Crater, an area that mission scientists
think might provide even greater evidence of Martian water.
NASA officially extended the rover missions to September of this year, but both will
keep on sending home science even longer as their good health and success continues.