# RIP, Opportunity. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 13, 2019, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-opportunity/829507 "2019-02-13T23:24:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2019, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-opportunity/829507/1 "2019-02-13T23:24:54Z")
After well over 5,000 days (or rather, [sols](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sol_(day_on_Mars))) of active service, the 90-day mission of NASA’s Opportunity rover on Mars has [officially come to an end](https://mars.nasa.gov/news/8413/nasas-opportunity-rover-mission-on-mars-comes-to-end/). _Ave aqtue vale_, Opportunity. You were a very good robot. The xkcd cartoon you may be thinking of right now [was actually about Spirit](https://xkcd.com/695/), Opportunity’s sister robot. Alas, I guess [this one](https://xkcd.com/1504/) won’t be coming true, either. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2019, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-opportunity/829507/2 "2019-02-13T23:45:52Z")
I raised a toast to our robotic explorer. Power down and wait it out, little buddy. We’ll get up there for you eventually. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-opportunity/829507/3 "2019-02-14T00:09:42Z")
I’ve kept track of the recent attempts to regain contact and knew this was coming. But it still hit me hard. I was also sad when Cassini ended its mission but that was different because it was still working. Here is hoping Oppy will be visited in the not to distant future. Brian ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-opportunity/829507/4 "2019-02-14T00:19:52Z")
> [@me](#): > > The xkcd cartoon you may be thinking of right now [was actually about Spirit](https://xkcd.com/695/), Opportunity’s sister robot. Alas, I guess [this one](https://xkcd.com/1504/) won’t be coming true, either. And I see there’s already [a new xkcd](https://xkcd.com/2111/) posted for this bittersweet occasion. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-opportunity/829507/5 "2019-02-14T00:39:12Z")
I know we should not anthropomorphize the rover but sometimes it is hard not to. All alone, 34 million miles away on a cold, inhospitable planet trudging ever so slowly and unendingly and even singing happy birthday to itself once and then giving that up. For me the nail in that particular, anthropomorphizing coffin, were Opportunity’s last words (so to speak) to NASA: _“My battery is low and it’s getting dark.”_ I always liked seeing the pictures from Mars. Will miss you buddy. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-opportunity/829507/6 "2019-02-14T01:23:26Z")
I follow sarcastic rover on twitter so I learned of this from him this morning. I feel a sad. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-opportunity/829507/7 "2019-02-14T01:56:55Z")
Opportunity no longer knocks. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-opportunity/829507/8 "2019-02-14T03:06:08Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > After well over 5,000 days (or rather, [sols](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sol_(day_on_Mars))) of active service, the 90-day mission of NASA’s Opportunity rover on Mars has [officially come to an end](https://mars.nasa.gov/news/8413/nasas-opportunity-rover-mission-on-mars-comes-to-end/). > > _Ave aqtue vale_, Opportunity. Talk about exceeding expectations – that’s what I call return on investment. Well done, Team Opportunity, you designed, built and deployed a fine system. All things must pass, on Earth and Mars and the Heavens, but no one can take out this achievement. You take your place in the great chain of explorers. ---
**Author:** ![filmstar-en](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/50afbb/32.png) [@filmstar-en](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmstar-en)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-opportunity/829507/9 "2019-02-14T12:41:53Z")
A fine example of quality engineering. Makes me wonder how many earthbound engineers were involved in that remarkable mission. I expect it was a cast of thousands over the years. They can be feel very proud that they have achieved so much. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-opportunity/829507/10 "2019-02-14T13:34:44Z")
I’ve been a rover junkie since day 1, but I really got into it when Spirit got stuck and quit talking. I followed Opportunity about weekly if not more often after that; never got so into Curiosity for some reason. So I’m sad. But what a great run! ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-opportunity/829507/11 "2019-02-14T13:42:20Z")
How long can the rover stay there before all evidence of it’s existence is hidden or gone I wonder? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-opportunity/829507/12 "2019-02-14T15:43:08Z")
A plucky little 'bot which more than exceeded expectations, and served the United States and all of humanity very, very well. Rest in peace, Opportunity. “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-opportunity/829507/13 "2019-02-14T16:32:36Z")
In a recent pub quiz I asked the question “Which planet is, to the best of our knowledge, entirely populated by robots?”. I guess that population is down to one now. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-opportunity/829507/14 "2019-02-14T16:43:12Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > In a recent pub quiz I asked the question “Which planet is, to the best of our knowledge, entirely populated by robots?”. I guess that population is down to one now. Two: Curiosity, and the recent InSight lander. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-opportunity/829507/15 "2019-02-14T16:46:04Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > In a recent pub quiz I asked the question “Which planet is, to the best of our knowledge, entirely populated by robots?”… That is a \*great \*question. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-opportunity/829507/16 "2019-02-14T17:27:17Z")
Whoever translated a power check and a measurement of ambient light as “My batteries are low and it is getting dark” is an emotionally manipulative bastard and a better writer than I can ever hope to be. Godspeed Opportunity. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-opportunity/829507/17 "2019-02-14T18:07:22Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Two: Curiosity, and the recent InSight lander. Oh yeah - forgot about InSight. Ta. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-opportunity/829507/18 "2019-02-14T18:44:15Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Oh yeah - forgot about InSight. Ta. I plan on stealing your excellent pub quiz question, btw. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-opportunity/829507/19 "2019-02-14T18:44:17Z")
The Curiosity rover pays homage: [Mars Opportunity rover: Curiosity pays tribute to rover with poem](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2019/02/13/mars-rover-curiosity-pays-tribute-opportunity-rover-poem/2864795002/) ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-opportunity/829507/20 "2019-02-14T19:22:19Z")
A 90 day mission that ended up lasting almost 15 years. That’s an amazing feat. The teams that designed and supported Opportunity can be proud of their achievement. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-opportunity/829507.md?page=2)