When Opportunity knocks, you answer it. But when Opportunity is lost, well, $400 million goes down the drain. While that might be just a small hole in NASA’s pocket, it seems like the beloved Mars Rover that has helped us discover water on the planet is now gone.
Launched in 2003, the Mars Rover (who’s named Opportunity, if you couldn’t guess by now,) was lost in a huge dust storm that swept across the red planet. The storm, which began June 10th, covered most of the planet, and has left Opportunity lost in the winds.
Scientists at NASA will not know fully if the vehicle is gone for good, as the batteries may fail to restart after weeks of downtime. The rover would have to speak back to its headquarters to affirm it is still alive. Otherwise, Opportunity will be unable to continue its mission.
The good news is that the rover was only meant to stay on the red planet for 90 days, but made it a whopping 15 years and has become a staple part of scientific discovery for Mars. Rest in peace, Opportunity. You will be missed.
