I think the headline and those like it are anthropomorphizing for a public audience, but it seems to be a touchy subject. If a mission was completes its original mission on schedule and continues operating for multiples of that span, what is the "correct" (non-offensive) way of saying it "outlived" its original expected lifetime? Simply saying it's "complete" seems to downplay the significance of the event. "Completed its 6 month mission in 8 years" also doesn't celebrate the event. What would you consider less offensive?