NASA’s Opportunity Rover Mission Ends | 15 Feb 2019

Opportunity, a NASA rover to the surface of Mars, has stopped communicating with Earth after 15 years of service.

• NASA lost contact with the solar-powered vehicle on June 10, 2018, after a dust storm. Dust covered the solar panels of the rover due to which the rover was unable to charge its batteries.

About Opportunity Mission

• Type: Lander/Rover
• Launch Date: July 07, 2003
• Landing Date on Mars: January 25, 2004
• Target: Mars

Significance

• Technology Demonstration
  • The opportunity rover mission was to end within three months with the objective to drive up to 1 km on the Martian surface. But the Opportunity Rover covered almost 45 km and lasted for around 15 years on the Mars.
• History of Mars
  • Opportunity explored the craters on Mars and gathered evidence to prove that Mars once had water and was warm enough to possibly sustain life.