NASA Opportunity, affectionately known as “Oppy,” was an robotic rover that significantly exceeded expectations during its mission on Mars. Launched in 2003 as part of NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover program, it arrived on Mars in 2004. Originally designed for a 90-sol (Martian days) mission, Opportunity defied all odds by operating for 5110 sols, equivalent to 14 years and 136 days, showcasing its remarkable longevity and resilience.
Throughout its mission, Opportunity achieved numerous milestones, including the discovery of meteorites, extensive explorations of craters, and successful navigation of challenging terrains. It covered a distance of 45.16 kilometres (28.06 miles), far surpassing its initial objectives.
However, Opportunity’s mission came to an end due to a massive dust storm that affected its power supply. Despite efforts to re-establish contact, the rover’s final communication was in June 2018. NASA declared the mission complete in February 2019.
