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We're Gonna Party Like It's 2003: The Opportunity Rover Turns 10

WeedLordVegetaWeedLordVegeta Registered User regular
in Social Entropy++
The Opportunity Rover was slated to last about 90 days on Mars, doing some cursory exploration for signs of water and life on the planet.

Today is the tenth anniversary of its launch. It has exceeded its expected lifecycle 40 times over now.


This is honestly one of the best and certainly one of the most feel good stories to come out of the scientific community in the 21st century. The stories about how the team would stay up at night worrying when Spirit or Opportunity had mechanical issues are endearing and I hope that the rover keeps on chugging for another 10.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY!


marsOpportunity.jpg

Posts

  • WeaverWeaver Breakfast Witch Hashus BrowniusRegistered User regular
    http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mer/news/mer20130702.html#.UdmmQW0kx2k
    PASADENA, Calif. - NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has driven more than half of the distance needed to get from a site where it spent 22 months to its next destination.

    The rover has less than half a mile (800 meters) to go to finish a 1.2-mile (2-kilometer) dash from one crater-rim segment, where it worked since mid-2011, to another, where mission controllers intend to keep Opportunity busy during the upcoming Martian winter.

  • WeaverWeaver Breakfast Witch Hashus BrowniusRegistered User regular
    Have to add, Opportunity's larger cousin Curiosity is rather fond of taking selfies.

    PIA16937-br2.jpg

  • UsagiUsagi Nah Registered User regular
    I should remind everyone that Sarcastic Rover exists

    5wtk7Cc.png

    PUIdV7k.png

  • MetalbourneMetalbourne Inside a cluster b personalityRegistered User regular
    Hooray for science!

  • WeaverWeaver Breakfast Witch Hashus BrowniusRegistered User regular
    This thing is wonderful.

    http://mars.nasa.gov/multimedia/interactives/billionpixel/

  • see317see317 Registered User regular
    ihz4EOK.png

  • Bendery It Like BeckhamBendery It Like Beckham Hopeless Registered User regular
    see317 wrote: »
    ihz4EOK.png

    came here to post this :|

  • WeedLordVegetaWeedLordVegeta Registered User regular
    hearing stories about the team after they lost contact with spirit

    just

    so sad

    they spent months hailing it even though the likelihood of a response was miniscule

  • ToxTox I kill threads they/themRegistered User regular
    nsRcZ7E.png

    Me and Opportunity.

    Discord Lifeboat | Dilige, et quod vis fac
  • FishmanFishman Put your goddamned hand in the goddamned Box of Pain. Registered User regular
    Rollin' rollin' rollin'.

    X-Com LP Thread I, II, III, IV, V
    Cardboard Tube wrote:
    That's unbelievably cool. Your new name is cool guy. Let's have sex.
  • Donovan PuppyfuckerDonovan Puppyfucker A dagger in the dark is worth a thousand swords in the morningRegistered User regular
    see317 wrote: »
    ihz4EOK.png

    My feels...

  • ASimPersonASimPerson Cold... ... and hard.Registered User regular
    In July 2003 I was two months away from beginning my freshman year of college.

    I shouldn't feel old, but I kinda do?

    redoctober2.pngSE++ Forum Battle Archive
  • NiryaNirya Registered User regular
    That'll do, robot, that'll do.

    t70pctuqq2uv.png
    3DS: 2981-5304-3227
  • RMS OceanicRMS Oceanic Registered User regular
    Dangit, I'm trying to find an edit of the XKCD comic where Rover is pleased that he's still alive, and decides we want him to keep doing science, and the last line was like.

    "I'm stuck! Oh, stationary science platform now? Rockin'"

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