NASA rover Opportunity has completed its mission

The little rover that could, Opportunity, has reached the end of its record-setting mission.  Launched in July 2003, Opportunity was meant to last only three months and travel only about 1000 meters, but it exceeded its life expectancy and went for almost 15 years.  It traveled more than 28 miles.  It made its way into Perseverance Valley, its final resting place. 

It set a one-day Mars driving record by traveling 721 feet and returned more than 217,000 images.  Opportunity got trapped in a sand ripple but NASA managed to free it by putting in reverse and gunning it. 

Last year, a planet-wide dust storm passed over it.  Before the storm, Opportunity signaled that its batteries were running low.  Afterwards, NASA tried a thousand commands to restore contact but to no avail.  Its last communication was received June 10.

Opportunity, Mars rover, launched 2003

The Mars Rover that keeps on going, Opportunity (MER-B) was launched July 7, 2003 and arrived on the Red Planet January 25, 2004.  It has not stopped since.  Still going over 13 years later, Opportunity has exceeded its planned operating time by 50 times. It has traveled almost 30 miles and even has an asteroid named for it.

Spirit, Mars rover, lands on Mars 2004

Spirit (MER-A: Mars Exploration Rover - A or MER-2) landed on the Martian landscape January 4, 2004.  It was launched June 10, 2003 and was planned for a 90 day mission, but Spirit proved to be more valuable.  Spirit operated for 2269 days before contact was lost.  It logged 4.8 miles of driving, much more than the planned 0.4 miles.  After more than 5 years of exploration, Spirit got stuck in soft soil.  For eight months, NASA tried to free it but finally announced in January 2010 Spirit was permanently stuck, but it continued to conduct scientific research from its stationary position.

Spirit captured a dust devil moving across the Martian landscape: 

Three weeks after Spirit landed, its twin rover, Opportunity (MER-B) landed on the opposite side of Mars.

European Space Agency's Schiaparelli lands on Mars!

Earlier today, the European Space Agency received confirmation from its Mars lander Schiaparelli that it had successfully landed on the Red Planet, becoming the third Earth agency to clutter up the Martian landscape.

It landed in the Merdiani Planum, near NASA's Opportunity.  This is a multi-national cooperative project in which the ESA received support from the Russians.  NASA was helping out for a while but had to drop out because of (gasp) budget cuts.

It will be interesting to see what data we receive from Schiaparelli.  It will drill at least 2m into the Martian soil to look for signs of life, past and present.

Mars Rover Opportunity still going strong after 12 years

The Mars rover "Opportunity" just celebrated its twelfth anniversary on the Red Planet, landing (or bouncing, really) on January 24, 2004.  NASA had planned three months for Opportunity, but keeping the rover's solar panels facing the sun and conducting "dust-clearing events" have allowed NASA to extend the go-getter's mission 48 times longer (currently). 

Winter solstice has passed so more sunshine will be available for Opportunity.  Since 2011, it has been investigating a 14-mile wide crater called Endeavor.  Researchers are using Opportunity's rock abrasion tool to scrape the crust off the surface of a rock.  Then, instruments in the rover's arm can determine the composition.