CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Rest in Peace, Mars Rover Opportunity.
NASA pronounced the rover officially dead Wednesday. Cause of death: a dust storm in June so ferocious that it darkened the sky for months and prevented sunlight from reaching Opportunity's solar panels.
- Mars Rover Opportunity landed in 2004 for a 90-day mission
- Rover continued to operate until a dust storm in 2018
- RELATED: Space News | Launch Schedule
To be fair, Opportunity rolled around Mars far longer than NASA ever expected. The rover landed on the red planet in 2004, for a mission that was only supposed to last 90 days.
It went on another for 14 years. Opportunity also outlived its sister rover, Spirit, by several years.
NASA spent months trying to contact Opportunity after the sky cleared, but the rover never responded to commands. A final attempt was made Tuesday.
Among the rover's achievements, Opportunity roamed 28 miles around Mars, exploring several craters. Opportunity discovered evidence that ancient Mars had water flowing on its surface, and might have been able to sustain microbial life. The long mission also help NASA change the way it navigates its spacecraft on the planet.
NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine said that, as scientists neared a decision about the rover's fate, he encountered people who were a little choked up. Bridenstine said this should also be a day of celebration, though.
NASA still has two more spacecraft on Mars: Curiosity and InSight. Three more landers are expected to launch next year, from the United States, Europe and China.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.