There is an end to everything, to good things as well, wrote English author Geoffrey Chaucer in 1374. NASA says pretty much the same applies to the Mars Opportunity Rover. Did we lose you forever? It asks. We have not heard from it for a while and things are not looking good according to Science Alert.
Did We Lose You Forever, In a Mars Dust Storm?
We know the drama. An intense and enormous dust storm girdled planet Mars. Moreover, it cut Opportunity Rover off from the solar energy on which it feeds. Nothing worked anymore, and there are fears its batteries have permanent damage.
However, NASA scientists believe the Martian skies are beginning to clear as the storm starts to abate. “The Martian global dust storm of 2018 is one of the most extensive on record,” project scientist Rich Zurek says. “But all indications are it is finally coming to a close.” In fact, there have been no dust storms within 1,900 miles of the rover’s current position for a while. But there have been dust devils …
The Problem is Nothing Lasts Forever, Including Batteries
Nobody is sure what will happen when sunshine returns to Perseverance Valley. Opportunity Rover should be able to recharge its batteries in theory, and send a signal to Earth. But NASA believes the dust storm might have been ‘the kiss of death’. It wants final resolution to the question, did we lose you forever?
Therefore, it has given the Opportunity Rover team two more months to produce proof Opportunity Rover survived the storm. If they do not hear back after 45 days, they will reach a conclusion. Either the sun-blocking dust, or the Martian cold have conspired to cause a fault from which the rover will not recover.
Not everybody agrees and we are on their side. Because a bout of a wind from a dust devil could still scour the solar panels clean. We hope someone is listening if Opportunity Rover tweets, is anybody there? Please call.
Related
Fresh Opportunity Hoped for Rover on Mars
Opportunity Rover Set to Warm Its Batteries
Preview Image: Footprints in the Sand by Opportunity Rover
Video Share Link: https://youtu.be/k8lfJ0c7WQ8
