The Compton Gamma Ray Observatory and three of its four experiment packages continue to function in a nearly flawless manner now well into the eighth year of mission operations. Only the EGRET instrument is operating with reduced capability due mainly to the depleted spark-chamber gas, but it is nonetheless still expected to make significant contributions, notably in the area of Solar flares and AGN variability. We discuss the status of the mission as of mid-1999 as well as the prospects of an extended mission lasting well into the first decade of the next century. ©2000 American Institute of Physics.