Mars rover surpasses Viking 1's longevity record

As of Thursday, there's a new -- but possibly temporary -- champion.

For decades, the NASA Viking 1 lander held the title after toiling away six years and 116 days on the red planet. But Opportunity, one of the twin rovers that landed in 2004, has surpassed that record and shows no signs of stopping.

Unlike Viking 1, which conducted science experiments in one spot, the six-wheel, solar-powered Opportunity has been on the go, driving into craters and peering at rocks along the way.

Designed to last three months, the golf cart-size rover has logged more than 12 miles on its odometer and is inching toward the largest impact crater yet -- a journey that is expected to take several years.

With winter under way in the southern hemisphere, Opportunity has had to alternate between driving and resting to recharge its battery and stay warm.

"The expectation is that Opportunity will keep on going and going and going," said project manager John Callas of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Since parachuting to the surface, Opportunity has survived dust storms and bone-chilling winters; Kazinform refers to China Daily. See www.chinadaily.com.cn for full version.