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Opportunity - Blog Posts
You are working the gate in the afterlife and for the first time ever, something the humans built has shown up to be processed. You’re not sure what to do, this… entity shouldn’t have a soul, but here it is in front of you, freshly dead and awaiting the next life.
SolarCity to start online investment platform for the public
The Opportunity to Rove on Mars! 🔴
Today, we’re expressing gratitude for the opportunity to rove on Mars (#ThanksOppy) as we mark the completion of a successful mission that exceeded our expectations.
Our Opportunity Rover’s last communication with Earth was received on June 10, 2018, as a planet-wide dust storm blanketed the solar-powered rover's location on the western rim of Perseverance Valley, eventually blocking out so much sunlight that the rover could no longer charge its batteries. Although the skies over Perseverance cleared, the rover did not respond to a final communication attempt on Feb. 12, 2019.
As the rover’s mission comes to an end, here are a few things to know about its opportunity to explore the Red Planet.
90 days turned into 15 years!
Opportunity launched on July 7, 2003 and landed on Mars on Jan. 24, 2004 for a planned mission of 90 Martian days, which is equivalent to 92.4 Earth days. While we did not expect the golf-cart-sized rover to survive through a Martian winter, Opportunity defied all odds as a 90-day mission turned into 15 years!
The Opportunity caught its own silhouette in this late-afternoon image taken in March 2014 by the rover's rear hazard avoidance camera. This camera is mounted low on the rover and has a wide-angle lens.
Opportunity Set Out-Of-This-World Records
Opportunity's achievements, including confirmation water once flowed on Mars. Opportunity was, by far, the longest-lasting lander on Mars. Besides endurance, the six-wheeled rover set a roaming record of 28 miles.
This chart illustrates comparisons among the distances driven by various wheeled vehicles on the surface of Earth's moon and Mars. Opportunity holds the off-Earth roving distance record after accruing 28.06 miles (45.16 kilometers) of driving on Mars.
It’s Just Like Having a Geologist on Mars
Opportunity was created to be the mechanical equivalent of a geologist walking from place to place on the Red Planet. Its mast-mounted cameras are 5 feet high and provided 360-degree two-eyed, human-like views of the terrain. The robotic arm moved like a human arm with an elbow and wrist, and can place instruments directly up against rock and soil targets of interest. The mechanical "hand" of the arm holds a microscopic camera that served the same purpose as a geologist's handheld magnifying lens.
There’s Lots to See on Mars
After an airbag-protected landing craft settled onto the Red Planet’s surface and opened, Opportunity rolled out to take panoramic images. These images gave scientists the information they need to select promising geological targets that tell part of the story of water in Mars' past. Since landing in 2004, Opportunity has captured more than 200,000 images. Take a look in this photo gallery.
From its perch high on a ridge, the Opportunity rover recorded this image on March 31, 2016 of a Martian dust devil twisting through the valley below. The view looks back at the rover's tracks leading up the north-facing slope of "Knudsen Ridge," which forms part of the southern edge of "Marathon Valley
There Was Once Water on Mars?!
Among the mission's scientific goals was to search for and characterize a wide range of rocks and soils for clues to past water activity on Mars. In its time on the Red Planet, Opportunity discovered small spheres of the mineral hematite, which typically forms in water. In addition to these spheres that a scientist nicknamed “blueberries,” the rover also found signs of liquid water flowing across the surface in the past: brightly colored veins of the mineral gypsum in rocks, for instance, which indicated water flowing through underground fractures.
The small spheres on the Martian surface in this close-up image are near Fram Crater, visited by the Opportunity rover in April 2004.
For more about Opportunity's adventures and discoveries, see: https://go.nasa.gov/ThanksOppy.
Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com
10 Things to Know: Massive Dust Storm on Mars
Massive Martian dust storms have been challenging—and enticing—scientists for decades. Here’s the scoop on Martian dust:
1: Challenging Opportunity
Our Opportunity rover is facing one of the greatest challenges of its 14 ½ year mission on the surface of Mars--a massive dust storm that has turned day to night. Opportunity is currently hunkered down on Mars near the center of a storm bigger than North America and Russia combined. The dust-induced darkness means the solar-powered rover can’t recharge its batteries.
2: One Tough Robot
This isn’t the first time Opportunity has had to wait out a massive storm. In 2007, a monthlong series of severe storms filled the Martian skies with dust. Power levels reached critical lows, but engineers nursed the rover back to health when sunlight returned.
3: Windswept
Martian breezes proved a saving grace for the solar-powered Mars rovers in the past, sweeping away accumulated dust and enabling rovers to recharge and get back to science. This is Opportunity in 2014. The image on the left is from January 2014. The image on the right in March 2014.
4: Dusty Disappointment
Back in 1971, scientists were eager for their first orbital views of Mars. But when Mariner 9 arrived in orbit, the Red Planet was engulfed by a global dust storm that hid most of the surface for a month. When the dust settled, geologists got detailed views of the Martian surface, including the first glimpses of ancient riverbeds carved into the dry and dusty landscape.
5: Dramatic License
As bad as the massive storm sounds, Mars isn’t capable of generating the strong winds that stranded actor Matt Damon’s character on the Red Planet in the movie The Martian. Mars’ atmosphere is too thin and winds are more breezy than brutal. The chore of cleaning dusty solar panels to maintain power levels, however, could be a very real job for future human explorers.
6: Semi-Regular Visitors
Scientists know to expect big dust storms on Mars, but the rapid development of the current one is surprising. Decades of Mars observations show a pattern of regional dust storms arising in northern spring and summer. In most Martian years, nearly twice as long as Earth years, the storms dissipate. But we’ve seen global dust storms in 1971, 1977, 1982, 1994, 2001 and 2007. The current storm season could last into 2019.
7: Science in the Dust
Dust is hard on machines, but can be a boon to science. A study of the 2007 storm published earlier this year suggests such storms play a role in the ongoing process of gas escaping from the top of Mars' atmosphere. That process long ago transformed wetter, warmer ancient Mars into today's arid, frozen planet. Three of our orbiters, the Curiosity rover and international partners are already in position to study the 2018 storm.
8: Adjusting InSight
Mission controllers for Mars InSight lander--due to land on Mars in November--will be closely monitoring the storm in case the spacecraft’s landing parameters need to be adjusted for safety.
Once on the Red Planet, InSight will use sophisticated geophysical instruments to delve deep beneath the surface of Mars, detecting the fingerprints of the processes of terrestrial planet formation, as well as measuring the planet's "vital signs": Its "pulse" (seismology), "temperature" (heat flow probe), and "reflexes" (precision tracking).
9: Martian Weather Report
One saving grace of dust storms is that they can actually limit the extreme temperature swings experienced on the Martian surface. The same swirling dust that blocks out sunlight also absorbs heat, raising the ambient temperature surrounding Opportunity.
Track the storm and check the weather on Mars anytime.
10: Dust: Not Just a Martian Thing
A dust storm in the Sahara can change the skies in Miami and temperatures in the North Atlantic. Earth scientists keep close watch on our home planet’s dust storms, which can darken skies and alter Earth’s climate patterns.
Read the full web version of this article HERE.
Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com
Solar System: Things to Know This Week
Our solar system is huge, so let us break it down for you. Here are a few things to know this week:
1. We’re Going In
To be honest, Jupiter is kind of a monster. Not only is it the biggest planet in the solar system, but it also wields the most dangerous radiation and other powerful forces. Despite the risks, our Juno probe is going in close, because Jupiter also holds precious clues to how the planets formed, including our own. Arrival date: July 4. Watch the Juno mission trailer video HERE.
2. Moon Maps
The moon is beautiful in the sky, and also up close—sometimes even in the maps that scientists use to study its surface. Here are some evocative maps that lunar geologists have drawn up to chart the landscapes in the moon’s dramatic Tycho Crater. Take a look HERE.
3. That’s No Moon…Sort Of
The full moon we’ll see this week is not Earth’s only companion in space. Astronomers have discovered a small asteroid in an orbit around the sun that keeps it near the Earth, where it will remain for centuries. But it’s not exactly a second moon, either.
4. Power Blast
Venus has an “electric wind” strong enough to remove the components of water from its upper atmosphere, which may have played a significant role in stripping Earth’s twin planet of its oceans, according to new results from the European Space Agency (ESA) Venus Express mission by NASA-funded researchers.
5. How Green (Well, Red) Was My Valley
“Marathon Valley” slices through the rim of a large crater on Mars. It has provided fruitful research targets for our Opportunity rover since July 2015, but now the rover’s team is preparing to move on.
Want to learn more? Read our full list of the 10 things to know this week about the solar system HERE.
Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com
A broken heart expands our capacity for life. It amplifies our empathy, deepens the souls connection to love and magnifies our desire to reach for more.
We learned so much more about Mars than we ever could in the last century thanks to Opportunity, and I'm gonna miss Oppy, even though I haven't known her for as long.
Someday, we will go back and get her and bring her back home, but for now, you did so well, Opportunity. Thank you
So long, Oppy.
At some point in our species’ future, a human will walk up to the Opportunity rover, clear the dust off of her solar array, and wake her up.
This probably won’t happen in my lifetime, but it will happen, and when it does, it will be incredible.
you’ve heard of: getting emotionally attached to your roomba
now get ready for: genuinely mourning the mars rover like a deceased loved one
“ᴍʏ ʙᴀᴛᴛᴇʀʏ ɪs ʟᴏᴡ ᴀɴᴅ ɪᴛ’s ɢᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ ᴅᴀʀᴋ.” || 𝑔𝑜𝑜𝒹𝓃𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉, 𝑜𝓅𝓅𝑜𝓇𝓉𝓊𝓃𝒾𝓉𝓎!
this morning NASA abandoned their mars rover Opportunity (aka Oppy) because it (she) got hit by a storm on Mars and it knocked her camera and wheels out and her last words to the team were “my battery is low and it is getting cold”. I know she’s a machine but I’m devastated. Oppy is the one who discovered water on Mars. RIP oppy ily space baby
“my battery is low and it’s getting dark” is so hauntingly human, so crushingly lonely. I can’t articulate the deep, profound ache that sentence evokes. It’s acceptance and defeat and terror and sadness all at once, all from one tiny machine we asked to explore the stars for us.
STEM students who don't refer to their living areas as "stem cells" are wasting an opportunity and need to switch majors immediately.
Oppy, you proved eveyone wrog and turned a 90 day mission into a 15 year adventure. You’ve helped us explore new terrain and discover new ideas, and you will be forever remembered in the hearts of all the people you inspired. This is not a goodbye, but a see you soon, for when we travel into space and come to mars, we will be searching for you.
Click for my article “What’s a Co-Op? and How Do I Get One?”!
-Kirsi Kuutti
Our cheering faces are in an Official NASA Tumblr post. Go Cotern class of Fall 2015! You all can join us at NASA by applying for an internship, Pathways Internship (Co-Op), Recent grad program, Full Time position or become an astronaut!
So you want to work at NASA?
An out of this world career or internship might not be as far out of reach as you think. Check out all the ways you can get involved!
If you’re a student…
Our internships are the perfect place to start! We offer paid internships for spring, summer, and fall semesters to U.S. citizens currently attending an accredited university full time. Learn more at: https://intern.nasa.gov
Seriously considering a job in the Federal civil service? Check out the Pathways Internship Program which allows you to do multiple work tours while you finish school: http://nasajobs.nasa.gov/studentopps/employment/iep.htm
If you’re a recent graduate…
If you’re a U.S. citizen who has graduated from an accredited college or university within the past 2 years (or 6 if you have served in the military), then the our Recent Graduates program is just for you. Accepted applicants are placed in a 1 year career development program with the possibility of an additional year, or even granted term or permanent jobs within the agency. Learn more at: http://nasajobs.nasa.gov/studentopps/employment/rgp.htm.
If you’re a professional…
You can search for our job openings any time at USAJobs.com. Create an account, then use the USAJobs resume builder. Want to make sure your resume maximizes your opportunity for a job at NASA? Check out our Applicant Guide: https://applyonline.nasa.gov/applicant_guide.html.
You can then search for our job openings here: https://nasai.usajobs.gov/.
If you want to be an astronaut…
Astronaut candidate applications are accepted every few years- including right now! Get yours in before the current application closes on February 18, 2016.
Do you have a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field and 3 years of related professional experience? You might be eligible. Find out more and apply online at: https://nasai.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/423817000.
Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com
NASA National Community College Aerospace Scholars Fellow interns did an amazing job mentoring NASA's National Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS). They held a panel sharing their NASA stories as NCAS alumni sharing wisdom about treating rejection like an opportunity, achieving excellence over perfection, fundraising no matter what, and following your passion. The NCAS students built autonomous Lego robots that retrieved pieces of rovers from a mock Mars surface. You too can be a part of NCAS Due Early December 2015: https://nas.okstate.edu/ncas/
Tech Opportunities: Grace Hopper Day 2
An overwhelming aspect of the Grace Hopper Conference is the career fair and hosted lunches. During which you get to exposed to many career, learning and conference opportunities. I couldn't possibly take advantage of all these opportunities so I will share them with you.
Hour of Code: Everyone
Learn a bit of programming for an hour or longer if you like! Simply projects to get you jump started with programming.
Bank of America Internships: Current Students
Hiring and looking for interns in cyber security, user interface design, software, IT and more.
NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Community: Women in College
Attend conferences, access to exclusive scholarships, exposure to internship opportunities, join a support group of over 2500 like minded women who share a similar passion for computing. A support network where you can connect with others 24/7. There is always someone posting or responding on the Facebook page!
Google & Microsoft Internships: Everyone
At the Grace Hopper Conference Google & Microsoft heavily stressed that they are hiring and recruiting more interns and full time hires. They both offer parental leave meaning both parents get paid leave for many weeks for a child!
Best Buy: Everyone
During the career fair Best Buy was hosting a coding challenge which caught my attention. They displayed medium level code in various languages and you had to determine what it outputs. After completign the challenge they described various engineering, analyst and IT.
Code Camp | Square: College & High School Women
Five day to week long tech immersive camp where you code, practice leadership and complete group engineering projects.
NASA Co-Op and Internship: Current Students
Of course I am going to list NASA opportunities I Co-Op at NASA! Everybody in every discipline can contribute to NASA's mission and humanities goals to advance space exploration. There are current education, fashion design, art, engineering, computer science, and biology majors and more!
These are the first nine opportunities that popped into my head and I will share more as the conference progresses.
NASA Intern Wrap Up
Some of the world's brightest minds and some of the most ambitious students have been my colleagues for my ten week adventure as a NASA intern. Week ten we scrambled to complete documentation for our projects. I was creating tutorials about making displays until my last hours as an intern. Our journey came to a close with an intern award ceremony, a branch competition playing laser tag and lunch with friends eating stir fry and drinking bubble tea. At the award ceremony a number of interns were recognized for their outstanding work and I was so proud to see one of the interns from the team I was in, Avionics System Division, be recognized! Students worked on so many game changing projects that if everyone was recognized the award ceremony would have lasted many hours. I am so thankful to be working alongside these talented people!
During my journey I learned two major lessons. I learned about the state of NASA and what exciting things I want to be a part of in the futurel.
The State of NASA NASA is filled with passionate professionals that love what they are doing and want what they are working on to succeed. These professionals are engineers, scientists, physicists, biologists, geologists, business majors, art majors, professionals from many disciplines. The word that best describes NASA is resilient. Outer spaces is a brutal place and yet the International Space station, a space lab larger than a football field, orbits the Earth every 90 minutes. Things malfunction and systems fail yet NASA picks themselves off the ground, brushes the dirt off and tries again refining, enhancing and improving. In addition to engineering challenges, NASA faces financial challenges. The returns for investing in space exploration is hard to visualize on the surface but can be illustrated after a bit of investigation. Cordless drills, MRIs and Solar Panels are all thanks to NASA's space exploration. These and other technologies are called "Spin-Offs", world changing technologies that are developed during space exploration. The microchip, like the one in your smart phone, was perfected by others but a technology first designed and implemented by NASA. There was little need to micro-size technology until humans had the desire to lunch it into space and conserve weight. NASA has created jobs by opening up the suborbital space industry and showing that such a crazy concept like that could be profitable. NASA is in a state of continued innovation and can propel even father and faster with greater financial support.
Future Endeavors Designing a display for a project I worked on two summers ago at another NASA center and seeing the collaboration of two centers on such an ambitious project was the most rewarding part of my internship. In the summer of 2013 I interned at NASA Glenn in Ohio testing and making a circuit board for a solar array regulator. The regulator insures that a space habitat has the correct amount of power at all times. This summer I worked on the displays for that same power system. I loved the birds eye view of the project understanding the electronics inside and the programming filtering data into the display. In the future I would like to be a part of multi-center projects like these and be able to follow the various aspects that tie it all together. In addition to high level understanding I also enjoy low level work as well. I would love to work on a team that is tasked with rapid prototyping. Feeling anxious about being able to meet a deadline is exciting; especially if I'm adding last details onto a system as its being loaded on a rocket, that's basically what we did in FIRST Robotics making last minute changes as we transported it tot the field. In addition to NASA projects I would love to intern or study abroad in Norway. As I am Scandinavian, I am interested in learning the language and spending a summer over there.
How to Get Involved I am so thankful I had the opportunity to intern at Johnson Space Center. Family members, teachers and mentors have supported me and shaped my trajectory to make this opportunity possible.Very shortly I will be starting a Pathways Internship, what they call their Co-Op program, back at Johnson. I wish everyone could have a NASA experience and I encourage you to apply for an internship, Co-Op or other program. Please comment or message me with any questions about applying.
Intern program: https://intern.nasa.gov/ossi/web/public/main/
Co-Op program: http://nasajobs.nasa.gov/studentopps/employment/opportunities.htm (More spots will open soon for Spring)
Blog post about other opportunities: http://kirsikuutti.blogspot.com/2015/06/launching-your-aerospace-career.html
Photos by NASA Johnson Space/Allison Bills
Also pictured Caleb the author of this awesome tumblr: http://astronomicalwonders.tumblr.com/
Every one of us is losing something precious to us. Lost opportunities, lost possibilities, feelings we can never get back again. That’s part of what it means to be alive..