Mars Opportunity rover ends 15-year mission

Scientists announced Wednesday (February 13) that the Mars Opportunity Rover has officially ended its illustrious 15-year career of scientific exploration. NASA lost touch with 'Oppy' on June 10, 2018, following a global dust storm. There has been no communication since. Scientists had expressed optimism that Opportunity would survive but, the sustained duration of inactivity led the scientific team to end the rover's historic mission. The Opportunity rover was built to operate for three months but has thrived on Mars since January 2004, giving scientists volumes of data to study and learn more about Mars than anticipated. The massive dust storm last year coated solar panels that powered the rover, preventing the six-wheeled robotic explorer from generating the electricity necessary to needed to operate.