For your amazement…
Curiosity takes us everywhere… even up a Martian mountain! It's been 10 years since @MarsCuriosity's daring landing on the Red Planet. Set a reminder to join the celebration and chat with mission team members. Submit questions with #AskNASA or ask live. https://t.co/0qHM5DpXYK
— NASA (@NASA) August 3, 2022
It’s an impressive run. The primary mission was planned for 1 Martian year (1.88 earth years), although the team was definitely planning that as a bare minimum.
I don’t know how long they hoping for, but even considering Opportunity’s entirely unexpected 14 year run relative to a 90 Earth day primary mission (there was a low expected likelihood of that mission lasting beyond 1 year due to dust accumulation on its solar panels), I’m not sure they were daring to wish for over a decade again, lest something fail by this time.
I think it’s also worth mention Mars Insight, a stationary, solar powered lander that has been on the surface since late 2018, is nearing the end of its mission. It was planned for 2 Earth years of research, but because the location where it landed turned out not to experience the frequent dust devils that were found for Opportunity and its sister Spirit to help keep the solar panels clean, it is expected to run out of power in roughly another month. It will be a little shy of 4 years after landing.
Curiosity, in contrast, is powered by radioactive decay. Its radioisotope thermal generator is rated for a minimum 14 year mission life.