There have been many “obituaries” for Opportunity, this one if from Sky and Telescope.
Opportunity’s mission was originally expected to last 90 days. It relies on solar panels for power, and engineers expected dust to accumulate on the panels over time and choke out that power. “We didn’t expect wind to blow dust off,” says project manager John Callas (NASA / JPL). “It became reliable on a seasonal cycle.” Combined with what Callas calls “the finest batteries in the solar system,” the robot far outlived its original warranty.
But now, after almost 15 years of roving the Red Planet, last summer’s global dust storm proved too much for the rover to withstand. Dust coated the panels, and Opportunity’s voltage dropped below usable levels. (The dust storm wasn’t a problem for plutonium-powered Curiosity.)
Opportunity’s mission was originally expected to last 90 days. It relies on solar panels for power, and engineers expected dust to accumulate on the panels over time and choke out that power. “We didn’t expect wind to blow dust off,” says project manager John Callas (NASA / JPL). “It became reliable on a seasonal cycle.” Combined with what Callas calls “the finest batteries in the solar system,” the robot far outlived its original warranty.
But now, after almost 15 years of roving the Red Planet, last summer’s global dust storm proved too much for the rover to withstand. Dust coated the panels, and Opportunity’s voltage dropped below usable levels. (The dust storm wasn’t a problem for plutonium-powered Curiosity.)