This column is archived at: https://aardvark.co.nz/daily/2019/0214.shtml
Sometimes stuff breaks almost before you get it home.
Other times, stuff keeps on working, seemingly forever.
Well NASA's Mars Opportunity rover certainly falls into the latter category, having exceeded its planned operational lifetime by a factor of almost 40 -- before succumbing to the harshness of the Martian environment last year.
Geez, I wish NASA made washing machines and vacuum cleaners!