NASA's Mars Global Surveyor has orbited the planet since March 1999 on a mission to map and study the planet's entire surface. The long-term mission has produced particular insights into the dynamic planet's changing seasons and shifting weather, including its infamous dust storms. Perhaps the most famous of all Martian missions is that of the Mars exploration rovers Spirit and Opportunity. These two rovers reached opposite sides of Mars in January 2004 and have proceeded to explore the planet far more extensively than previous missions. The rovers have covered several miles and returned more than 100,000 high-resolution images. Probing soil and rocks, they have also used their fully equipped lab modules to conduct robotic field geology tests on the Martian surface and even below it. Many future Mars missions are already in development and will take place long before any human visits the planet. Scientists hope that robotic craft can delve far beneath the Martian surface to return data, and possible samples, of the planet's geology. Such missions could even find signs of the water, and possible life, that may lie hidden beneath the planet's forbidding exterior.
- NASA's Mars Global Surveyor will map and study Mars’ entire surface. _________________
- Spirit and Opportunity reached opposite sides of Mars in January 1999. _________________
- The rovers have returned more than 10,000 high-resolution images. _________________
- Information about the planet's geology will be provided by robotic craft. _________________
Read the passage again and choose the best answer (A, B, C or D)
- What is the passage mainly about?
A. NASA's Mars Global Surveyor B. Mars exploration ongoing mission
C. Mars’ infamous dust storms D. High-resolution images of Mars
- What may lie hidden beneath the Martian forbidding exterior?
A. Water and possible life B. Valuable quarry
C. Geology tests D. Dust storms
