NASA launched two Mars rovers in 2003, named Spirit and Opportunity. Both rovers far exceeded their original mission durations of 90 Martian days. Spirit stopped communicating in 2010. Opportunity was in contact with NASA until last June, when a dust storm on Mars prevented the robot from using its solar power. But the space agency still held out hope for the long-surviving Opportunity.
NASA attempted to make contact with Opportunity one more time last night. Unfortunately, it was unsuccessful. On Wednesday, NASA officially ended the Opportunity rover mission. The announcement was made from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, which manages the Mars rover missions.
“Spirit and Opportunity may be gone, but they leave us a legacy,” said JPL Director Michael Watkins during today’s press conference. “And that’s the legacy of a new paradigm for solar system exploration.”
The rovers “energized the public about the spirit of robotic Mars exploration” and inspired students to seek careers in STEM fields, Watkins added.
Although we still have one active rover on Mars—Curiosity, which landed on the planet in 2012—and another rover mission set to launch in 2020, the science and engineering communities were understandably heartbroken over the end of the Opportunity mission. On Twitter, people shared comics, illustrations, photos, and other tributes to the rover.
I'm heartbroken about #Opportunity. Let's just imagine that #Oppy has gone dark to set up its own Mars rover colony. (thanks @xkcdComic, this is my favorite) pic.twitter.com/KWRhoN4wO9
— Erin Macdonald is Not Here (same un on the sky) (@drerinmac) February 13, 2019
Hi it’s 6 am and idk why I’m crying over a robot? Farewell, #Oppy pic.twitter.com/aCKooMBwdd
— saint is tired (@saintissleeping) February 13, 2019
Heartbreaking that it appears NASA's Opportunity rover has met its end. What an amazing mission – nearly 15 years active on Mars, more than 28 miles traveled, and some simply stunning images like this one. Farewell #Oppy pic.twitter.com/mk6x1mtMfa
— Jonathan O’Callaghan (@Astro_Jonny) February 13, 2019
Some people in the science community used the hashtag #ThankYouOppy while sharing their fond memories of the rover.
https://twitter.com/jccwrt/status/1095708691611955200
Spent the evening at JPL as the last ever commands were sent to the Opportunity rover on #Mars. 💔
— Dr. Tanya Harrison (@tanyaofmars) February 13, 2019
There was silence. There were tears. There were hugs. There were memories and laughs shared.#ThankYouOppy #GoodnightOppy pic.twitter.com/JYRPtKZ8T5
So as not to end this on a sad note, let me tell you about the time I kissed a rover.
— Bobak Ferdowsi (@tweetsoutloud) February 13, 2019
(We should hope all missions last so long that questionable fashion choices at their start become downright terrible ones at their end)#ThankYouOppy pic.twitter.com/K0YknlJwrS
The signs point to where our thoughts and hearts are today. 😭#ThankYouOppy 💚@NASAJPL @MarsRovers pic.twitter.com/92w9qpGl5l
— Mapperwocky(@mapperwocky@bsky.social and Mastodon) (@cirquelar) February 13, 2019
It has left its tracks. And though the winds may erase them, the memory and the science will live on forever.#Opportunity will always be with us.#ThankYouOppy @NASAJPL @MarsRovers pic.twitter.com/xGQC3jzEpm
— Kevin M. Gill (@kevinmgill) February 13, 2019
In case you’re wondering how long Opportunity traveled over 15 years, NASA clocked it at 28.06 miles. That may not seem very far, but it’s the longest drive on a planet other than Earth. Goodbye, Opportunity! Maybe we’ll see you around if humans ever make it to Mars.
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