Opportunity Mars Rover

[shy_magpie]

I assume everyone has heard the news, approximately 15 years into its 90 day mission the Mars Rover Opportunity has been declared dead. A storm covered its solar panels in dust and its batteries ran out. They tried sending message after message but it didn't respond after telling them "My battery is low and it's getting dark". I know there are more urgent, more sad, events happening; some of which I could even have some effect on - and yet every time I see a mention of it I fight tears. The phrase "Opportunity dies in darkness" keeps ringing through my head. In NASA's last message they sent Billie Holiday's "I'll Be Seeing You", which includes a line most appropriate for the occasion "I'll be looking at the moon, but I'll be seeing you".

Comments

[novembermond]

I'm not crying, you're crying! :(

Re: "Opportunity dies in darkness"

[flaksesomlys]

This photoset from tumblr seems pretty darn appropriate:

(the quoted poem is The Old Astronomer by Sarah Williams)

Re: "Opportunity dies in darkness"

[shy_magpie]

Oh that is beautiful! Perfect choice of poem!

Re: "Opportunity dies in darkness"

[peoriapeoriawhereart]

They acknowledged that it may be recoverable, but only once we're capable of going to Mars, and sparing the time to do repairs.

We did manage to build something well enough, we were able to keep communicating and thinking outside the box, but there are some tasks that need an actual hand or close analog to and that was not sent with Opportunity.

Re: "Opportunity dies in darkness"

[shy_magpie]

NASA could probably Kickstart most of the money to set up a base on Mars if they called it something other than a colony and promised to look after the rovers

Re: "Opportunity dies in darkness"

[peoriapeoriawhereart]

Research Station. "This small outpost is closer to our long range craft, handy to repair regional systems. We also grow potatoes and other crops."

Get someone with Announcer Voice, Wildlife Edition, to make the pitch.

[jkatkina]

Listen, someday in the far future -- past our lifetimes, I think -- some human in a spacesuit will walk up to this little robot we've all loved so well and brush off its solar panels, and our old friend will return to us.

It's not dead, it's just waiting.

[shy_magpie]

Sleep well little friend!