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The Opportunity Rover's Final Photo of Mars (cnn.com)

pgmrdlm shares a report from CNN: Last May, Opportunity took a look around Perseverance Valley on the inner slope of Endurance Crater's western rim. The valley is about the length of two football fields and it's full of descending shallow troughs. Ironically, Perseverance Valley became Opportunity's final resting place when a planet-encircling dust storm took over Mars in June, blocking the sun from reaching the rover's solar panels. Engineers lost contact on June 10 and persistently sent more than a thousand signals and commands to the rover over eight months until they realized the mission was over on February 13. But before those dark days, Opportunity acted like a tourist, snapping 354 photos between May 13 and June 10 that would create one last beautiful panorama of the place it will forever call home. "This final panorama (embedded in the report) embodies what made our Opportunity rover such a remarkable mission of exploration and discovery," said Opportunity project manager John Callas of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. "To the right of center you can see the rim of Endeavour Crater rising in the distance. Just to the left of that, rover tracks begin their descent from over the horizon and weave their way down to geologic features that our scientists wanted to examine up close. And to the far right and left are the bottom of Perseverance Valley and the floor of Endeavour crater, pristine and unexplored, waiting for visits from future explorers."

48 comments

  1. Now binary boy will be along to explain that going by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    to other planets is a waste of time, and we should all slump in our armchairs and wait for death like him.

  2. Re:Now binary boy will be along to explain that go by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    you sound just like him.

  3. dune buggy by IwantaWaffleIron · · Score: 1

    Makes me want to drive around there in a dune buggy.

    1. Re: dune buggy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Just go over to the Hollywood set where the photos were taken, and you can!

  4. Never. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    pgmrdlm is upset, he'll never be worth what 1 oz of moondust is.

  5. Re:Now binary boy will be along to explain that go by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm drunk. But unlike him, I think that spending money on spaceships is a positive thing.

  6. Re: Now binary boy will be along to explain that g by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Even on mars the sun is bursting right out of the sky

  7. XKCD captured this by Antique+Geekmeister · · Score: 1

    The XKCD cartoon was for Spirit, but it captured this feeling for Rover as well.

    https://xkcd.com/695/

    1. Re:XKCD captured this by Freischutz · · Score: 4, Funny

      The XKCD cartoon was for Spirit, but it captured this feeling for Rover as well.

      https://xkcd.com/695/

      There is an XKCD cartoon for Opportunity as well:

      https://xkcd.com/1504/

    2. Re: XKCD captured this by ememisya · · Score: 3, Funny

      Imagine opportunity has like a family there. Turns out there is a race of intelligent underwater aliens on Europa, and they end up sending their own rover to Mars as well. The rovers fall in love. Some of the kids look like those pullback cars from the 90s.

  8. Re: Now binary boy will be along to explain that g by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Madonna's 60 now, but I would happily fuck her.

  9. Better resolution by UPi · · Score: 4, Informative

    It you want to see that last panorama photo in better resolution, try this link:

    https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn....

    This image is a cropped version of the last 360-degree panorama taken by the Opportunity rover's panoramic camera from May 13 through June 10, 2018. The view is presented in false color to make some differences between materials easier to see.

    1. Re:Better resolution by 110010001000 · · Score: 1, Troll

      Notice how they photoshopped out the sky on those photos? That was to hide the studio lights.

    2. Re:Better resolution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Spare me the fucking pathetic attempts at "humor".

    3. Re:Better resolution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or the fact that getting data from beyond earth orbit is a pain/slow and the rover is dealing with the computational power of a modern smartwatch, so they had it focus its efforts on what really mattered, MARS

    4. Re:Better resolution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, he's not joking, although he's wrong about the lighting and location. It wasn't in a studio. The images were taken in Chile's Atacama Desert which scientists believe is very similar to the surface of Mars. The cropping was done to hide aircraft and their contrails that passed overhead during the photoshoot.

    5. Re:Better resolution by Tablizer · · Score: 4, Informative

      Here is another source. The bottom panel is highly zoom-able.

      https://www.nasa.gov/feature/j...

    6. Re: Better resolution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Itâ(TM)s a composite photo. The sky isnâ(TM)t photoshopped out. The rover has a limited data budget. Why would it waste data taking pictures of the sky and sending them back.

    7. Re: Better resolution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I thought it was funny. Just cos i disagree woth the vehemence of his anti space nutter stance, doesnt mean i have to be mr frowny every time he speaks

  10. Re: Now binary boy will be along to explain that by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Who wouldn't?

  11. Re: Now binary boy will be along to explain that by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's nice that there are still people out there who just enjoy getting wasted and having sex.

    If NASA wants to explore other planets, that's a bonus.

  12. Re: Now binary boy will be along to explain that by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    NASA wants to explore the skeleton of the 90,000 year old teenager they found in perseverance valley. Then it's on to the big planets.

  13. Don't link to fucking CNN you utter twat by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Don't link to fucking CNN you utter twat. Link to the original source.

    1. Re:Don't link to fucking CNN you utter twat by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Which fucker modded this down?!

  14. Re: Now binary boy will be along to explain that by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Madonna has been on AIDS drugs for 5 years now. Did you hear about the story between her and the Pepee Longstocking girl with the sex tape?

  15. Perseverance valley, Endurance crater... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ... Endeavor crater.

    Seriously, can't people be less boring with naming? Call it "Lost innocence" crater, "Youth Acne" crater, "Promiscuous girl" valley... I don't know, anything but those fake epic names.

    1. Re:Perseverance valley, Endurance crater... by tomhath · · Score: 2

      NASA has always been a marketing agency that does some space and military related work.

      And an earlier comment is correct - skip linking to junk news outlets like CNN and use the original source

  16. Re: Now binary boy will be along to explain tha by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    She deserved it

  17. Re: Now binary boy will be along to explain that g by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Shut up. This kind of thought would of kept the Apolo Astronauts from going to the moon. But they got over it and went anyway. Please apologize for such shortsightedness.

    -=)BeauHD(=-

  18. Re: Now binary boy will be along to explain that by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Raises hand

  19. Re:Now binary boy will be along to explain that go by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yeah, I already know your views. You spew them here with great regularity.

    Aren't there some humans living on the ISS right now? That's not Earth. Shouldn't it be "biologically impossible" for them to be there?

  20. Re: Now binary boy will be along to explain that by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Excellent, maybe she'll feel more grateful about me fucking her.

  21. Re:Now binary boy will be along to explain that go by 110010001000 · · Score: 1, Interesting

    No they aren't living there. They are taking short stays of typically 6 months. You know why? Because they would be dead if they tried living there for years. Space nutters ignore reality. And by the way, the ISS is paradise compared to Mars or another reachable planet.

  22. Just wanted to say.. by nanospook · · Score: 0

    I know I'm shallow for saying so.. but.. Rocks rocks and more rocks.. oh and a hill..

    --
    Have you fscked your local propeller head today?
    1. Re:Just wanted to say.. by Fly+Swatter · · Score: 1

      Were you expecting Marvin or something? This could be Earth in a million years.

    2. Re:Just wanted to say.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I know I'm shallow for saying so.. but.. Rocks rocks and more rocks.. oh and a hill..

      Yes, you probably are.

      From wikipedia

      Opportunity, also known as MER-B (Mars Exploration Rover - B) or MER-1, and nicknamed "Oppy", is a robotic rover that was active on Mars from 2004 to late 2018. Launched on July 7, 2003, as part of NASA's Mars Exploration Rover program, it landed in Meridiani Planum on January 25, 2004, three weeks after its twin Spirit (MER-A) touched down on the other side of the planet. With a planned 90-sol duration of activity (slightly more than 90 Earth days), Spirit functioned until it got stuck in 2009 and ceased communications in 2010, while Opportunity was able to stay operational for 5111 sols after landing, maintaining its power and key systems through continual recharging of its batteries using solar power, and hibernating during events such as dust storms to save power. This careful operation allowed Opportunity to exceed its operating plan by 14 years, 46 days (in Earth time), 55 times its designed lifespan . By June 10, 2018, when it last contacted NASA, the rover had traveled a distance of 45.16 kilometers (28.06 miles).

      Getting it there at all, having it operate for 14 years ... this is an incredible feat.

      Me, I think Spirit and Opportunity are an incredible success story, and I'm still kind of in awe that it ever happened.

      Solar arrays generate about 140 watts for up to fourteen hours per sol, while rechargeable lithium ion batteries stored energy for use at night. Opportunity's onboard computer uses a 20 MHz RAD6000 CPU with 128 MB of DRAM, 3 MB of EEPROM, and 256 MB of flash memory. The rover's operating temperature ranges from -40 to +40 C (-40 to 104 F) and radioisotope heaters provide a base level of heating, assisted by electrical heaters when necessary.[

      I mean, good lord, if you think you could build something with the same specs, get it to and operate it on another planet for 14 years ... then I will patiently wait to be impressed by what you have.

      Me, I will continue to salute NASA and the rover program for having done something pretty incredible.

      If we've become so numbed by special effects that taking pictures from an honest to goodness other planet, then we've lost something in terms of understanding what this actually took to accomplish.

    3. Re:Just wanted to say.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why would this be Earth in a million years? I think Earth will be just like Earth a million years ago. Not much change.

    4. Re:Just wanted to say.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A lot of people have got it in their heads that Earth is going to become a barren wasteland if we don't "change our wicked ways" and embrace radical environmentalism. Don't get me wrong, unless we make some significant changes life is going to get real unpleasant for us (humans, a lot of niche animal species, etc) in the next few hundred years but the planet/biosphere is going to be fine long term. The planet has weathered far worse than us (supervolcanos, asteroid impacts, global cooling events, etc).

  23. Re:Now binary boy will be along to explain that go by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You see, you haven't even given the reasons why humans might be dead if they stayed on the ISS for years. You have no interest in sharing whatever knowledge you have, or being involved in a discussion.

  24. Re: Now binary boy will be along to explain that g by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    What Mars does have that the ISS doesnâ(TM)t have (but that we should have some sort of test station for by now) is gravity. The main health problems that astronauts experience in the ISS are bone density loss and degradation of their vision. Both of these are results of the microgravity environment. On Mars, there would be gravity. What we simply donâ(TM)t know is if it would completely eliminate the health problems (high probability it would eliminate the pressure problems that damage eyesight, pretty reasonable chance that it could eliminate the bone density loss, at least if active measures are taken such as wearing ankle and wrist weights), reduce them, or be just as bad as microgravity (highly unlikely).

    The other big health risks) aside from blowing up in a rocket/crashing or dying in some other accident) are radiation and the potential to be poisoned by toxins such as perchlorates. Frankly, the radiation fears are overblown. Yes, time outside would need to limited, but the radiation levels are pretty well understood at this point. Generally, Mars colonists would just have to live with a higher cancer risk and the occasional colonist who somehow gets caught outside during a solar event (theyâ(TM)re predictable, so they should normally get warnings to go inside). True, there can be radiation events that are unpredictable. If thereâ(TM)s a nearby supernova or something like that though, weâ(TM)re probably all toast anyway.

    As for toxins, a good cleaning regimen in airlocks along with good suit design and suitable storage protocol for suits should prevent dust from being carried inside. Plus, the air would surely be heavily filtered. Also, itâ(TM)s not really that hard to remove perchlorates from water and to wash them out of soil or otherwise reduce them to safe levels.

    Sure, there are obstacles to living on Mars, but there is no known reason they cannot be overcome. By simply declaring it impossible, you sound like those people who insisted that man would never fly, or that traveling faster than 30 mph would be fatal, or that elements could not be transmuted into other elements, or that wild animals like wolves or horses couldnâ(TM)t be domesticated or that âoeFire! Bad!â.

    Can you explain exactly what justifies your absolute certainty? What makes you so sure?

  25. Sanguniely airbrushed by NASA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sanguinely airbrushed by NASA.

    Hey look it's Greenland.

    Never ever, ever, trust NASA.

  26. Gelsacs by serviscope_minor · · Score: 2

    Well, someone's gelsacs are safe from K'Breel's wrath now at any rate.

    --
    SJW n. One who posts facts.
  27. Re: Now binary boy will be along to explain that g by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    An interesting post, thanks. Don't expect a reply from 10101010, though .....

  28. Needed a nuke RTG by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sadly, if they had put a small RTG "radioisotope thermoelectric generator" on it, dust on the panels would not have been an issue...

  29. and from orbit [Re:Better resolution] by Tablizer · · Score: 1
  30. Re:Now binary boy will be along to explain that go by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Goofy douche you are caught lying https://hardware.slashdot.org/... you lying JEW substandard scumbag.