TIMELINE: The unexpectedly long life of the Mars rover 'Oppy'
TIMELINE: The unexpectedly long life of the Mars rover 'Oppy'
By The Signal reporter Nicole Helpenstill
Opportunity, otherwise known as “Oppy,” was a rover created by NASA as a part of their Mars Exploration Rover (MER) program. The MER mission included two Mars rovers, both Opportunity and Spirit; Spirit was active from 2004 - 2010. In July 2003, the rover Oppy began its journey to Mars. It took Opportunity about 6 months to land on Mars, where it was expected to last roughly 90 days.
However, Opportunity lasted 55 times longer than its expected duration. By the end of the rover's mission, it had lived 5,498 days (15 years), becoming one of NASA’s most famous and endearing missions to date. Opportunity made many significant scientific observations throughout its life, the following are some of the most significant.
By The Signal reporter Nicole Helpenstill
Opportunity, otherwise known as “Oppy,” was a rover created by NASA as a part of their Mars Exploration Rover (MER) program. The MER mission included two Mars rovers, both Opportunity and Spirit; Spirit was active from 2004 - 2010. In July 2003, the rover Oppy began its journey to Mars. It took Opportunity about 6 months to land on Mars, where it was expected to last roughly 90 days.
However, Opportunity lasted 55 times longer than its expected duration. By the end of the rover's mission, it had lived 5,498 days (15 years), becoming one of NASA’s most famous and endearing missions to date. Opportunity made many significant scientific observations throughout its life, the following are some of the most significant.
Opportunity launches from the surface of Earth on its journey to Mars to explore the surface for an estimated 90 days. The goal of the exploration was to get images of the planet and study its rocks with the intent to find signs of water.
Opportunity took approximately 6 months to reach Mars’ surface. It landed safely in a crater that was later named the “Eagle Crater." This is where Opportunity began its journey of exploration on Mars.
Just weeks after landing, Opportunity made one of its most well known discoveries. This was the day that the rover discovered and took images of small, spherical rocks composed completely of the mineral hematite. After studying these rocks, named “blueberries," it was decided that they were formed in the presence of water.
Opportunity begins using a procedure known as “deep sleep." During this procedure Opportunity disconnects its batteries at night. The point of this process was to stop the heater from drawing power from the battery. The long life of the rover is often attributed to this plan of action.
Completely by coincidence, Opportunity discovers the first meteorite on Mars. Opportunity had been sent to examine its discarded heat shield and within the vicinity was the basketball sized meteorite. The meteorite was named “Heat Shield Rock."
Opportunity reaches the rim of Victoria Crater. This is significant because Opportunity would spend approximately the next two years traveling this crater. While in the crater a new instrument allowed Oppy to determine how much noble gas argon was in the atmosphere of Mars.
Dust storms that have been clouding the atmosphere and blocking solar power from reaching Opportunity begin to intensify. Opportunity faces a real possibility of system failure because of the lack of power that it could generate. During this time NASA stated, "We're rooting for our rovers to survive these storms, but they were never designed for conditions this intense." Miraculously, Oppy survived and continued its journey on Mars.
Oppy begins its departure from Victoria Crater after 2 years. It was in this crater that phyllosilicate clay-bearing rocks were discovered. The rock type eludes that the planets previous environment may have been more hospitable to living organisms than previously believed.
Oppy discovers many more meteorites, making stops along its journey to capture images and samples.
Oppy has traveled further in the last two years than ever before. Oppy’s team names the sites at Endeavor Crater after the travels of the commander of HMS Endeavour. At one of these sites Oppy helps research water-bearing minerals that had previously been discovered by CRISM.
Oppy analyzes the “Homestake” formation and confirms that it is formed of gypsum. This research is considered the most concrete proof that there was a presence of water on Mars.
Oppy collects data from Freeley Haven, studying Martian winds for the first time.
NASA announces that Oppy has driven further than any other NASA vehicle, that is not on Earth. Oppy becomes an out-of-world record holder.
NASA celebrates the 10th anniversary of Opportunities landing on Mars. NASA shares a self portrait of the rover from above. They also share some pictures of Martian rocks that are much older than any others shown and reveal more favorable conditions for microbial life.
Oppy climbs to its highest elevation yet at Cape Tribulation. The summit of this location is said to have been 433 feet.
Oppy celebrates 12 years since its landing on Mars. This is also the year it is declared that Oppy has traveled the distance of a marathon.
Contact with Oppy is lost after a severe dust storm blocks out the Sun. NASA continues efforts to contact Oppy after the storm subsides.
This date marks the final attempt at contact. On Feb. 13, 2019, NASA declares Oppy dead stating the its mission is complete.