Who washed the rover? Nasa reveals Opportunity rover is looking cleaner than ever - and says Martian winds are behind the spring clean on the red planet
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After six years on the red planet, Nasa's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has collected its fair share of dust.
In fact, the red planet has thrown up so much that the solar panels on the rover were not working as well as they should.
However, Nasa has revealed the rover has has a spring clean - courtesy of the martian wind.
Before: This image of Opportunity in January 2014 shows its solar panels coated in a think layer of dust, obscuring its panels
Nasa today revealed these amazing pictures showing the rover's cleanup.
'It now has cleaner solar arrays than in any Martian winter since its first on the Red Planet, in 2005,' Nasa said.
'Cleaning effects of wind events in March boosted the amount of electricity available for the rover's work.'
TRhe two images show the rover in its 'dirty' state in January 2014 (above), where the panels have a thick layer of dust.
The 'clean' picture below, taken in March, reveals a sparking set of panels with their full capability restored.
The mission is using the rover's added energy to inspect 'Murray Ridge,' on the western rim of Endeavour Crater, to learn about wet environments on ancient Mars, Nasa said.
During Opportunity's first decade on Mars and the 2004-2010 career of its twin, Spirit, NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Project yielded a range of findings proving wet environmental conditions on ancient Mars -- some very acidic, others milder and more conducive to supporting life.
After: In its sixth Martian winter, NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity now has cleaner solar arrays than in any Martian winter since its first on the Red Planet, in 2005.
This false colour image of the roveron the Martian surface in its 'clean' state shows just how well the wind cleared the panels of dust
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