"my battery is low and it's getting dark"

regdog · Feb 13, 2019

May be the last words NASA ever hears from the Mars Rover Opportunity. Her mission was supposed last 90 days. She carried on for 15 years and traveled 28 miles. It is believed she fell victim to an intesne dust storm and -100 degree temperatures. NASA will try one more time to make contact and if there is no response declare her dead and the mission over. They will make an announcement today at 11:00 AM.

Link

Helix · Feb 13, 2019

I know Opportunity is a robot and the statements programmed, but it's difficult not to feel sad over those last words.

Introversion · Feb 13, 2019

I know how you feel, Opportunity.

Curlz · Feb 13, 2019

anybody else imagining it as Wall-E ?

regdog · Feb 13, 2019

Directive

Kaiser-Kun · Feb 13, 2019

The first manned mission to Mars better bring her back and put her in a museum. It's a better story than The Little Engine That Could.

Myrealana · Feb 13, 2019

I think I'm gonna cry.

Is that the silliest thing ever? Crying over the demise of a machine?

RedRajah · Feb 13, 2019

...she persisted...

JimmyB27 · Feb 13, 2019

Kaiser-Kun said:
The first manned mission to Mars better bring her back and put her in a museum. It's a better story than The Little Engine That Could.

They may have other things to worry about

This is about Spirit, but is fitting for her sister rover too.

regdog · Feb 13, 2019

RedRajah said:
...she persisted...

ElaineA · Feb 13, 2019

Kaiser-Kun said:
The first manned mission to Mars better bring her back and put her in a museum. It's a better story than The Little Engine That Could.

I am 100% thinking of Watney from The Martian now, working his way toward it...

What an incredible feat for NASA and JPL and all the people from the companies and labs that work with them.

JimmyB27 · Feb 13, 2019

ElaineA said:
I am 100% thinking of Watney from The Martian now, working his way toward it...

Pathfinder was closer though

SWest · Feb 13, 2019

It's the sort of thing you might try to post to your social media when you're stuck in a blizzard...

Chris P · Feb 13, 2019

And there are wolves after me. *hooooooowl*

I hope there might be another burst of life for some reason, and it is sad. But wow, what a run! Look at how much more we know and work accomplished. Opportunity has earned her retirement. And them some.

RedRajah · Feb 13, 2019

Can we name the next Mars Rover after Betty White?

Roxxsmom · Feb 13, 2019

So many great pictures and data. What a tough little machine. I'm sad to see it go.

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mer/images/index.html

talktidy · Feb 13, 2019

Sniffle.

regdog · Feb 13, 2019

It's offical. Oppy is gone.

Link

neandermagnon · Feb 13, 2019

ElaineA said:
I am 100% thinking of Watney from The Martian now, working his way toward it...

That's what I was thinking too.

I'm also kind of vaguely thinking about writing a story from the POV of a sentient robot on Mars.

ElaineA · Feb 13, 2019

This article in The Atlantic about other mission-ends and how the scientists and engineers deal with it is quite an emotional read.

Tazlima · Feb 13, 2019

Awwww....

M.S. Wiggins · Feb 13, 2019

'The End' of anything is akin to death, and death is always hardest on the living. That our sun blinked out for Opportunity is poetic in a way, but hopefully InSight will provide us an opus of scientific discovery.

frimble3 · Feb 13, 2019

Helix said:
I know Opportunity is a robot and the statements programmed, but it's difficult not to feel sad over those last words.

But someone programmed those words. There are probable hundreds of alternatives that would not be so evocative. Someone chose those. As has been said on this site, many times, "words matter".

Heck, I wouldn't mind "My battery is low and it's getting dark" for my last words.
Now, excuse me, my eyes are watering.

Marian Perera · Feb 13, 2019

frimble3 said:
Heck, I wouldn't mind "My battery is low and it's getting dark" for my last words.

"Do not go gentle into that good night."

Albedo · Feb 13, 2019

I'm thinking of Nick Cave for some reason.

Where is NASA? It's cold and stark
My battery's low and it's getting dark
Where is everyone? I'm beginning to rust
Under fifteen feet of thin red dust

"my battery is low and it's getting dark"

The Scavengers

socially distancing

Pie aren't squared, pie are round!

cutsie-pie

The Scavengers

!

I aim to misbehave

Special Snowflake? No. Hailstone

Hoopy frood

The Scavengers

All about that action, boss.

Hoopy frood

In the garden...

Likes metaphors mixed, not stirred

Special Snowflake? No. Hailstone

Beastly Fido

The Scavengers

Nolite timere, consilium callidum habeo!

All about that action, boss.

"The Moving Finger writes..."

Heckuva good sport

starting over

Alex