NASA’s Mars rovers are continuing to do exactly what they have been designed to do – namely roving. You might not think that would make headlines, but the fact they are doing it three and a half years on is pretty impressive, given that their initial mission was scheduled to last three months. Now one of the two machines is embarking on a mission that may spell its doom: Opportunity is roving into a crater it could become stuck in for the rest of its life. “If the rover malfunctions, or the terrain is more difficult than expected, this could be Opportunity’s last trip,” says the LA Times. Wired calls it “a risky trek that could spell trouble for the little explorer”.

Rocks exposed in the over-200-foot-deep (70 meters) Victoria Crater could provide insights into the past climate of Mars, according to the rovers’ NASA handlers. “For almost two years now, we’ve felt that Victoria Crater was the most compelling science for Opportunity,” said rover project manager John Callas in the Times.

According to AP the rover will be driving down a 15 degree slope towards rocks of interest. So far it has only peaked over the edge of the crater, before scampering backwards. After trundling four meters into the crater it tried to back out, but before it could succeed its wheels started slipping to such an extent that it sat down for a rest according to its protocols (Press release).

Will this be the end? Across the desk from me a colleague is already writing the rover’s obituary, just in case…

Image: Opportunity entering Victoria Crater / NASA/JPL-Caltech