Mars rover Opportunity keeps rolling, passes 12-mile mark on way to Endeavour crater

Mars rover Opportunity passes 12-mile mark

PASADENA, Calif. — The NASA rover Opportunity has passed the 12-mile mark on its marathon Mars mission.

Opportunity hit the driving milestone this week as it headed toward its next destination, Endeavour crater. The aging but plucky rover still has another 7.2 miles to go to reach the site.

Since landing in 2004, Opportunity and its twin Spirit have outlasted their original three-month mission.

Unlike the freewheeling Opportunity, Spirit is stuck in a sand trap. Its power has been declining with the coming winter, and it’s expected to go into hibernation mode.

Before it became stuck, Spirit had logged nearly five miles on its odometer.