Where there is hope – there is Opportunity.
In June of last year, we were told by NASA that the 14 year mission of Rover Opportunity might be coming to an end. The rover was caught in a planet-encircling dust storm. This did not allow light from the sun to reach the rover’s solar panels, and her battery were becoming drained.
This year NASA tried to get Opportunity up and running, but their best efforts did not work. NASA sent one more transmission to Opportunity on 12 February, 2019, but no response was received. The following day NASA announced that the mission was concluded.
At least the roving part is completed. Years will be spent by scientists and geologists and engineers pouring over the treasure trove of data sent back by Opportunity. All that information will improve the likelihood of another outstanding success in a future mission to Mars – or beyond.
If Opportunity had a middle name it would be Success. The rover was originally planned as a 90-day mission. Opportunity lasted for 14 years. Her sister rover, Spirit, lasted about half as long, but also well beyond her planned 90-day mission
Why mentioned them now, nearly 6 months after the conclusion of the mission? Because they are a model for success, and we should always talk about success. Plus I’ve been hoping that we would hear from her.
Maybe someday an astronaut will walk up and dust off her panels, and Opportunity will say, “Welcome to Mars”.
Image is derived from photos on the NASA Mars Mission website, https://mars.nasa.gov/mer/ . The background is of Opportunity’s last panorama picture.
More information on the rovers and future missions to
Mars may be found there. MER stands for “Mars Exploration Rover”.