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Opportunity and Spirit Mars Rovers

Mars Rovers Spirit and Opportunity are 6-wheeled, remotely operated explorers on the planet Mars. Learn more about Mars exploration and how the Spirit and Opportunity rovers are doing.

Latest Updates

The cover art for Foxanne's single, "Opportunity," released Oct. 9, 2020. On the right is an artist's impression of NASA's Opportunity rover on Mars.

In 'Opportunity' music video, Foxanne imagines a dying Mars rover's cry for help

By Hanneke Weitering published 28 October 20

If NASA's long-silent Opportunity Mars rover could phone home one last time to sing a sweet, sentimental song to its Earthly overlords from its dusty grave, it might go a little something like this.

Artist's concept of NASA's Curiosity rover approaching Mars. Curiosity is slated to land on the Red Planet in August 2012.

The boldest Mars missions in history

By Space.com Staff, Tom Chao published 15 July 20

Earth has been sending probes to Mars for decades, and some missions are especially awe-inspiring.

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

These Are the Last Photos NASA's Opportunity Rover Took on Mars

By Mike Wall published 13 March 19

A set of newly released photos shows what NASA's Mars rover Opportunity was looking at just before being engulfed by the monster dust storm that took its life.

Keri Bean (facing camera), the NASA tactical uplink lead for Opportunity, hugs a colleague during a press conference discussing the end of the Opportunity mission on Feb. 13, 2019. The event took place at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.

In Photos: How NASA Said Goodbye to the Opportunity Rover on Mars

By Elizabeth Howell published 25 February 19

NASA released this image, originally captured by the Opportunity rover on Aug. 4, 2010, to commemorate the end of the Mars Exploration Rovers mission.

Opportunity Rover Looks Back in Newly Released NASA Photo

By Meghan Bartels published 14 February 19

NASA's Mars rover Opportunity captured this image of the crater called "Spirit of St. Louis" on Mars

How NASA's Opportunity Mars Rover Lived So Long

By Mike Wall published 14 February 19

NASA's Mars rover Opportunity owed its astounding longevity to superior engineering, smart and creative drivers, and surprisingly consistent Red Planet winds, mission team members said.

Three generations of NASA Mars rovers on display at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California: a model of the twin Spirit and Opportunity rovers on the left, the Sojourner rover's ground twin below, and a model of the Mars Curiosity rover on the right.

Mars Rovers of the Future: What Comes After Opportunity

By Meghan Bartels published 14 February 19

NASA has given up on trying to make contact with its long-silent Opportunity rover on Mars, but the loss of the 15-year resident doesn't spell the end of Mars rovers.

The Opportunity rover holds the current record for longest distance driven on another planet.

The Epic Driving Record of NASA's Opportunity Rover on Mars

By Meghan Bartels published 13 February 19

NASA has officially stopped trying to contact its Opportunity rover on Mars, but before the robot went silent, it claimed a dramatic record: farthest distance driven on another planetary body.

The Weirdest Mars Discoveries by Opportunity and Spirit Rovers

By Hanneke Weitering published 13 February 19

As the Opportunity rover's mission on Mars officially comes to an end, we reflect on some of the strangest sights the rover and its twin, Spirit, encountered on the Red Planet.

Tracks from NASA's Mars rover Opportunity on the Martian surface

Mars Rover Opportunity Is Dead After Record-Breaking 15 Years on Red Planet

By Mike Wall published 13 February 19

One of the great exploration stories of our time is officially over.

NASA Has Made Its Last Attempt to Call Opportunity Rover on Mars

By Mike Wall published 12 February 19

NASA made its final attempt to resurrect the long-silent Opportunity rover on Mars on last night (Feb. 12). It will update the public today.

NASA Has a New Plan to Revive the Mars Rover Opportunity, as Time Runs Short

By Meghan Bartels published 25 January 19

NASA has developed a new, more powerful collection of commands to try to force the long-silent Opportunity rover on Mars to resume operations.

Silent Mars Rover Opportunity Marks 15 Years on Red Planet in Bittersweet Anniversary

By Mike Wall published 24 January 19

NASA's Mars rover Opportunity is beginning its 16th year on the Red Planet the same way it ended its 15th — in silence.

Mars Rover Opportunity Team 'Still Holding onto a Sliver of Hope'

By Leonard David published 11 December 18

NASA's Opportunity Mars rover has been silent since June 10, a casualty of a mega-dust storm. But the robot's handlers haven't given up yet on Opportunity, which touched down on Mars in January 2004.