WEBVTT


1
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:00.590
 

2
00:00:00.590 --> 00:00:07.680
 On July 7. 2003. the second of NASA's twin Mars Exploration Rovers. named Opportunity. 

3
00:00:07.680 --> 00:00:11.590
 followed its predecessor on a journey to the Red Planet. 

4
00:00:11.590 --> 00:00:18.500
 Mer B lifted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. riding atop a Delta II Heavy rocket. 

5
00:00:18.500 --> 00:00:27.040
 The more powerful rocket configuration was necessary as Opportunity's launch. which came 27 days after Rover A. 

6
00:00:27.040 --> 00:00:32.080
 needed more energy to get to Mars since the planet was farther away from Earth. 

7
00:00:32.080 --> 00:00:39.290
 Opportunity joined Rover A. a-k-a Spirit. at Mars on January 24. 2004. 

8
00:00:39.290 --> 00:00:47.920
 The Mars Exploration Rover mission is part of NASA's Mars Exploration Program. a long-term effort of robotic exploration. 

9
00:00:47.920 --> 00:00:53.730
 The Spirit and Opportunity rovers were designed to seek answers about the history of water on Mars 

10
00:00:53.730 --> 00:00:58.690
 by studying rocks and soils located on opposite sides of the planet. 

11
00:00:58.690 --> 00:01:06.250
 After landing. Opportunity took panoramic images to help scientists select promising geological targets. 

12
00:01:06.250 --> 00:01:12.060
 Then. the rover drove to those locations to perform on-site scientific investigations. 

13
00:01:12.060 --> 00:01:15.500
 Opportunity found great success early. 

14
00:01:15.500 --> 00:01:21.880
 Within two months. it found evidence that a body of salty water once flowed over the area. 

15
00:01:21.880 --> 00:01:28.730
 More than seven years into what was planned as a three-month mission. Opportunity has driven more than 20 miles. 

16
00:01:28.730 --> 00:01:33.530
 which is 50 times farther than the mission's original distance goal. 

17
00:01:33.530 --> 00:01:41.440
 After accomplishing its prime-mission goals. both rovers continued for years of bonus. extended scientific studies. 

18
00:01:41.440 --> 00:01:46.880
 Although Spirit stopped communicating with NASA mission controllers in March 2010. 

19
00:01:46.880 --> 00:01:51.110
 Opportunity continues to actively explore Mars. 

20
00:01:51.110 --> 00:01:53.480