NASA launched the Mars rover, Opportunity, on July 7, 2003. The rover landed on Mars Jan. 25, 2004, with a 90-day mission to find water on the Red Planet. Last week, NASA officially declared Opportunity’s mission over after making a final call to the rover, which had been silent since a dust storm in June. On Feb.19, the Bluffton University Science Club held a memorial service for the rover, complete with a eulogy from campus pastor Stephen “Tig” Intagliata.
The intention for Opportunity, known by some as “Oppy,” was to navigate Mars, take pictures, collect samples and transmit information on the weather. The rover astounded those in the science community and beyond when it became the longest-lasting robot on another planet ever, roaming Mars for more than 14 years.
According to NASA, “Opportunity has made a number of discoveries about the Red Planet including dramatic evidence that long ago at least one area of Mars stayed wet for an extended period and that conditions could have been suitable for sustaining microbial life.”
“I think it’s important because Opportunity was not a living thing in itself, but it symbolized a living hope of maybe going to Mars one day,” said senior chemistry, physics, math and pre-engineering major Ben Black. “The chance of maybe going to Mars one day, of sending people to Mars, of the quest for knowledge, possibly life on Mars, life on other planets.”
Opportunity’s last transmission was, “My battery is low, and it’s getting dark.”
After hearing of Opportunity’s death, the Science Club went to work organizing a memorial service. Members of the club contacted Intagliata to write a eulogy and lead the group in prayer and students to read scripture. Science Club President Sarah Oliver prepared a poem about Opportunity.
“I think it’s important to remember the Opportunity,” said Black. “Obviously, part of it was kind of just to have fun with it. The other part of it was to bring awareness to what Opportunity was, what she did for science.”
“The science community is really cool in that we like to celebrate little things,” said Oliver, a senior biology major. “When a new era is dawned like with the death of Oppy, it’s nice to be able to reflect back on where it was, and how far we’ve come. The fact that it was only designed to last 90 days, and it lasted 15 years is really, really a remarkable feat.”
On Tuesday night, more than 15 students and faculty members gathered on top of Shoker Science Center, lit candles and celebrated Opportunity’s contribution to science.
“She was a really great rover,” said Oliver.
“I would say, thanks Oppy,” said Black.
