13 votes

NASA’s Mars rover Opportunity concludes a fifteen-year mission

6 comments

  1. [4]
    JXM
    Link
    Every time I think about what NASA does, I have to stop and think how incredible it is. I mean, they landed a rover the size of a golf cart on another planet and it kept running for 15 years. How...

    Every time I think about what NASA does, I have to stop and think how incredible it is. I mean, they landed a rover the size of a golf cart on another planet and it kept running for 15 years. How awe inspiring is that?

    7 votes
    1. [3]
      spctrvl
      Link Parent
      And a rover designed for only a 90 day mission to boot.

      And a rover designed for only a 90 day mission to boot.

      5 votes
      1. Amarok
        Link Parent
        That engineering team needs special recognition. Seriously, that's a heroic level of skill. Build something for 90 days and get 5000? If you said that in any meeting anywhere you'd be laughed out...

        That engineering team needs special recognition. Seriously, that's a heroic level of skill. Build something for 90 days and get 5000? If you said that in any meeting anywhere you'd be laughed out of the room.

        7 votes
      2. zaarn
        Link Parent
        The design was 90 days "must work" and 1 year "should work" (extended mission). Still even at that almost 15 times planned lifespan is an engineering miracle.

        The design was 90 days "must work" and 1 year "should work" (extended mission).

        Still even at that almost 15 times planned lifespan is an engineering miracle.

        3 votes
  2. [2]
    zaarn
    Link
    Is it silly to cry over a mars rover?

    Is it silly to cry over a mars rover?

    6 votes
    1. idapp3r
      Link Parent
      No. What do you think I've been doing all day?

      No. What do you think I've been doing all day?

      4 votes