They were expected to explore Mars for a few months after they landed in 2004 and conk out. But the two Mars Rovers, Opportunity and Spirit have exceeded everyone's expectations and are still going strong.http://www.newser.com/2008 - Newseren-usNewser Feed GeneratorThu, 28 Aug 2008 8:06:48 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/84933/scientists-say-motor-on-mars-rovers-robotic-arm-worsens.html?refid=rss_all_defaultNASA engineers say a balky arm on one of the Mars rovers has worsened recently.Last week, a tiny motor in Opportunity's arm that controls the sideways motion of the shoulder joint stopped working while the robot was exploring an inner crater slope. The failure meant that the rover could not extend its arm.The shoulder motor, one of five in the robotic arm, has stalled several times since 2005 and usually starts up again by applying voltage.http://www.newser.com/story/84933/scientists-say-motor-on-mars-rovers-robotic-arm-worsens.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 24 Apr 2008 12:42:43 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/22570/mars-rovers-dodge-nasa-cuts.html?refid=rss_all_defaultNASA has spared its far-flung Mars rovers from budget cuts, reports the Washington Post, after its administrator got wind of the plan to hibernate Spirit and roll Opportunity back to part time. "Closing down either of the rovers is not on the table," his spokesman said, and underlings are looking elsewhere for cuts.http://www.newser.com/story/22570/mars-rovers-dodge-nasa-cuts.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 24 Apr 2008 12:37:45 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/22433/4m-nasa-cut-may-strand-mars-rover.html?refid=rss_all_defaultNASA confirmed and denied plans today to scuttle a Mars rover and fire 300 employees, CNN reports. The space agency first announced a $4 million cut to the Mars program's $20 million budget and vowed to unplug one of two rovers roaming the red planet. Then a NASA spokesman told CNN that "the cancellation of the Mars Exploration Rovers is not under consideration."http://www.newser.com/story/22433/4m-nasa-cut-may-strand-mars-rover.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 24 Apr 2008 12:37:45 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/19209/mars-was-too-salty-for-life.html?refid=rss_all_defaultHopes that Mars may once have supported life have taken a blow with the discovery that the planet has been too salty for life for much of its history, the BBC reports. "It was salty enough that only a handful of known terrestrial organisms would have a ghost of a chance of surviving there when conditions were at their best," a member of NASA's Mars rover team said.http://www.newser.com/story/19209/mars-was-too-salty-for-life.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 24 Apr 2008 12:37:45 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/17250/omg-bigfoot-on-mars-run.html?refid=rss_all_defaultAfter nearly four years of important discoveries, it has taken a tiny rock outcropping that looks like Bigfoot to make people passionate about the Mars rovers, the Telegraph reports. Conspiracy theorists are sure a photo snapped in 2004 reveals an alien, or perhaps a creature like Sasquatch. "I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw what appears to be a naked alien running around on Mars," writes one blogger.http://www.newser.com/story/17250/omg-bigfoot-on-mars-run.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 24 Apr 2008 12:39:28 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/8380/opportunity-knocks-on-mars.html?refid=rss_all_defaultNASA’s Martian explorer Opportunity reached its first destination inside the cavernous Victoria Crater yesterday and prepared to get to work drilling into bright rock layers to collect data. The six-wheeled robot last month began the precarious decline into the crater, headed for a shiny piece of bedrock that scientists think is a relic of the ancient Martian surface, the AP reports.http://www.newser.com/story/8380/opportunity-knocks-on-mars.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 24 Apr 2008 12:37:45 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/7465/mars-rover-steps-into-crater.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe dust has finally settled on Mars, and NASA's Mars rover Opportunity took its first steps Tuesday 13 feet into the half-mile-wide Victoria Crater—and then backed out after slipping beyond acceptable levels. With Opportunity's six wheels perched over the lip of the crater, researchers paused the operation in order to analyze data collected in the foray, Wired reports.http://www.newser.com/story/7465/mars-rover-steps-into-crater.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 24 Apr 2008 12:37:45 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/4634/martian-dust-imperils-rover-mission.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe violent dust storm that has immobilized NASA's Mars rovers for three weeks shows no signs of letting up, and is now threatening the future of the mission. "This is by far the worst storm the rovers have ever seen,"  the rovers project manager told reporters.  "Now it's all about saving power."http://www.newser.com/story/4634/martian-dust-imperils-rover-mission.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 24 Apr 2008 12:39:28 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/3944/mars-rover-crater-descent-delayed-by-dust-storm.html?refid=rss_all_defaultMars Opportunity Rover has been perched on the edge of Victoria Crater on Mars for nine months waiting to descend and explore the crater. Then, this week, when scientists were to send it down, a dust storm thousands of miles wide partially blocked the sunlight Opportunity needs to recharge its batteries. Until the dust abates the mission is on hold.http://www.newser.com/story/3944/mars-rover-crater-descent-delayed-by-dust-storm.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 24 Apr 2008 12:37:45 CDT