Sitting on the hill of an alien world millions of miles from home, a hardy NASA robot celebrates an anniversary Monday -- one year on the planet Mars.
The Mars Rover has come a long way since it hurtled down through the planet's atmosphere and came to a bouncy, airbag-protected stop at Gusev Crater on January 3, 2004.
It has survived more than four times its initial 90-day mission, driven miles across the Martian landscape and weathered a red planet winter only to scale hills for its human handlers.
As its first birthday arrived yesterday, NASA announced that the ultimate goal of the expedition had finally be achieved. Rover has been taught to sit, fetch, and beg.
Mars Rover Celebrates
