NASA's Mars Rover Spirit is in danger of finally ending its mission. As documented in this blog, Martian dust storms last summer put great stress on the power supplies of both rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. Now, NASA says, Spirit has until Christmas to reach a sunny slope where it will spend the long Martian winter, building up its power reserves by soaking up solar energy.
Complicating the drive is the fact that Spirit can only travel every other day; it needs the off day to recharge its power supply. If the rover cannot rebuild its energy store, the various systems will freeze and may not be recoverable in the Martian spring.
Opportunity, nearer the equator, is in better shape.
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