GS 3: Science & Technology | Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics etc.

Why in News?

• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced that its Mars Mission- Opportunity has come to an end as they are unable to restore contact with Mars Rover.
• This marked the conclusion of the 15-year long mission.

Highlights:

• The decision to end the mission was made after all the efforts to restore contact with the Opportunity Mars rover didn’t yield desired results.
• Reason for losing contact with an opportunity:
• A historic global dust storm reached the location of the Opportunity rover on Mars.
• The storm darkened the skies and cut off of the rover’s solar power.
• All the efforts of NASA to restore the rover did not yield positive results.
• Things worsened with the onset of the winter at the location of the Opportunity rover.
• The reduced sunlight and colder temperatures during winter made it unlikely for the recovery of the Opportunity rover.

The mission:

• Opportunity was the second of the twin Mars Exploration Rovers to land on Mars in January 2004.
• Opportunity landed 90 days after its twin rover Spirit landed.
• Spirit landed at Gusev Crater and Opportunity landed on the opposite side of Mars at Meridiani Planum. NASA expected 90-day lifetimes for the rovers.
• Both Opportunity and Spirit far exceeded their expected lifetime.
• Spirit’s mission ended in May 2011 after travelling eight kilometres and Opportunity had logged 45 kilometres before losing contact in June 2018.