What was the approximate life extension factor for Opportunity compared to its 90-sol initial mission budget?
Answer
An over 60-fold increase in operational lifespan
The operational lifespan of the Opportunity rover far surpassed its initial design parameters. While it was originally budgeted for a 90-sol mission, it continued operating for nearly 5,500 sols. Calculating the ratio of the actual operational time (approximately 5,500 sols) to the planned time (90 sols) yields a result significantly greater than 60. This incredible longevity, which equates to an over 60-fold increase, allowed the mission to cover vastly more ground and investigate geological features that were entirely outside the scope of the original, tighter constraints set by mission planners.
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