The article discusses NASA’s Mars rovers, particularly focusing on the Opportunity rover, which significantly advanced our understanding of the Red Planet. Launched in 1997, Opportunity was tasked with exploring Martian terrain for signs of past water and potential microbial life. The rover greatly exceeded its expected lifespan, functioning for nearly 15 years and covering over 28 miles—making it the first rover to “complete a marathon” on another planet.
In June 2018, a massive dust storm engulfed Mars, halting communications with Opportunity. Despite numerous efforts to restore contact, NASA declared the mission over in February 2019. The last data sent back included a dark image affected by the storm, symbolizing the rover’s final moments. NASA praised Opportunity for its remarkable contributions to interplanetary exploration and for laying groundwork for future missions to Mars.
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