This view from the front hazard-avoidance camera on NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit shows the position of Spirit's front wheels following a backward drive during the 2,154th Martian day, or sol, of the rover's mission on Mars (Jan. 23, 2010). The view is toward the north. Click for a larger verison. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

“Spirit is not dead; it has just entered another phase of its long life,” said Doug McCuistion, director of the Mars Exploration Program at NASA HQ in Washington, on the news that the rover Spirit is now a stationary platform.

Yes, it appears Spirit is not going to get out of the sand that has trapped it for about 10 months and it will live out its life right were it is.  There is still plenty of science Spirit can do over the next few months to years, but can it survive the winter?

Spirit has been on Mars for the past six years and has returned over 133,000 images and traveled somewhere around 12 miles.  Not bad for a mission that was to last 90 days.

Spirit’s twin Opportunity is still mobile and is making its way to a location called ‘Concepcion’ Crater.

Read the Spirit press release.