Story perspectives

NASA Ends Opportunity Rover Mission After 14-Year, 45-km Run

6/18/2026

Summary

Story summary

NASA declared the Opportunity rover mission complete on 13 February 2019 after a dust storm raised atmospheric opacity to about 10.5–10.8, preventing solar charging.
Science operations stopped on 8 June 2018, the last signal arrived on 10 June 2018, and NASA sent over a thousand commands through late 2018 with no reply.
Designed for a 90-day, 1-km mission, Opportunity drove about 45 km over fourteen years, while nuclear-powered rovers such as Curiosity continue operating.

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Story summary

NASA declared the Opportunity rover mission complete on 13 February 2019 after a dust storm raised atmospheric opacity to about 10.5–10.8, preventing solar charging.
Science operations stopped on 8 June 2018, the last signal arrived on 10 June 2018, and NASA sent over a thousand commands through late 2018 with no reply.
Designed for a 90-day, 1-km mission, Opportunity drove about 45 km over fourteen years, while nuclear-powered rovers such as Curiosity continue operating.