Scientists & Inventors · 21st Century
Opportunity Mars Rover’s Last Words
“My battery is low and it's getting dark.”— Opportunity Mars Rover, February 13, 2019
Who Was Opportunity Mars Rover?
NASA's Opportunity rover landed on Mars in January 2004 and was designed for a 90-day mission. It exceeded expectations by operating for over 15 years, traveling 28.06 miles.
The Final Moments
Opportunity's final transmission came on June 10, 2018, during a massive dust storm that blocked sunlight to its solar panels. NASA declared the mission complete in February 2019.
Are These Words Verified?
The poetic phrasing was created by reporter Jacob Margolis as an interpretation of Opportunity's final data transmission. NASA confirmed the rover's last signals indicated low power and darkness, but the exact wording is journalistic interpretation.
Sources
- archive NASA JPL mission logs
- newspaper Jacob Margolis, KPCC Science Reporter
Legacy
Opportunity discovered evidence of ancient water on Mars, transforming our understanding of the planet's history.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were Opportunity Mars Rover’s last words?
“My battery is low and it's getting dark.”
How did Opportunity Mars Rover die?
Opportunity Mars Rover died on February 13, 2019. Cause of death: Power failure during dust storm.
Were Opportunity Mars Rover’s last words documented?
The poetic phrasing was created by reporter Jacob Margolis as an interpretation of Opportunity's final data transmission. NASA confirmed the rover's last signals indicated low power and darkness, but the exact wording is journalistic interpretation.
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