#thanksoppy

[urgentkettle]

Always reblog Oppy. Brings me to tears every time

It’s going to get dark and quiet for a while...

Not sure how dark. Not sure for how long. But it will feel like both forever and the blink of an eye…

…Then one day something will shift. Ever so slightly, but softly. Then louder. And then closer. A little louder. A little closer. A little more louder. A little more closer. And as it gets closer the small bits of weight and darkness will slowly but surely come off…

…until all that red dirt is off to the sides. And after a few metallic clangs meet some rays of sunshine and the warmth of a new battery pack: a spark will come back. Eyes will re-open. And after a long sleep the first sight to see is a group of smiling astronauts. And a voice will say, either through radio signals or the dusty air or both: 

“Welcome back, Oppy. Sorry it took us so long.”

[meteorologistaustenlonek]

#ThanksOppy

"Cue the tears. 😭

Five years ago today, after a mind-boggling 15 years roaming Mars, our beloved Opportunity rover completed its mission.

Read about the response to this news on social media"

[arianwen44]

Goodnight #OpportunityRover, we'll see you again. ✨❤️

[danielagamba]

see you soon!

[hoothootmotherf-ckers]

anyway mars rovers are hopepunk and I stand by that

[estenyn]

“My battery is low and it’s getting dark.”

Goodnight, Oppy. Sweet dreams.

[firlexgremlin]

See you, space cowboy

[excess-of-cervidae]

maybe oppy gained sentience and her first and last words were "my battery is low and gets getting dark"

[sunevial]

Opportunity

Crafted by mortal hands

You and your brother were sent

Into the heavens

Through the cold and dark

And empty void

To our closest neighbor

A little red planet nine months away.

He was named for the courage to continue,

You for the incredible chance we took

To have a lense into the universe

And explore a place where no man

Has ever gone before

But to where you both could go.

Three months was all you were asked

A rousing success for just that

Short a time

And yet you both persisted on

Little motors turning

Collecting samples

Making tracks in rusted dirt

Defying all expectations back

On our little blue planet.

At six, your brother went to sleep

Worn down by time and dust

And distance from loving hands to repair.

His name was Spirit

And you must have remembered it

As you trecked on

Carrying on his memory

Sending back data

Powered by solar panels

That would not die

Not for almost another nine turns

Around that distant sun.

It was a storm that took you in the end

Clouds of dust and dirt

The likes of which we had never seen

A once in a lifetime or longer

Fitting for someone who outlived their expectancy

By fourteen odd years

For you were Opportunity

You took your namesake

And rolled fearlessly into the wind

Taking with you

Our chance to discover

Our chance to explore

Our chance to wonder

Our chance to dream

Our chance to hope

Others will carry on the mission

In your wake

Send back numbers

Across the stars.

For now, take your respite.

Sleep well alongside your brother.

Know that around that little

Blue planet

You left behind

Thousands light a candle

For a rover we never knew

But went to blaze a trail

We are a people who honor our explorers.

You are counted among legends.

Rest well, Oppy.

[class42warship]

next kirby game predictions

kirby and the crew go out and rescue oppy and repair her

[animezinglife]

See you, Space Rover...

[madeleinedevalois]

i don't give a fuck about matt damon america spend your designated rescue budget on bringing our brave robot home

[apollos-armpits]

Oppy deserves more than this messy thing but I love you baby! You did so well!

[fatduckie]

[dragonflystudi0s]

Thank You, Little Rover

A little poem I wrote in memory of the beloved Opportunity rover

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Valentine's day

The day of love

Of life, of hope, of true love

A day meant to be happy, yet we suffer a loss

That saddens our hearts this day

For today, we have lost a dear friend

Though inhuman, you've stolen our hearts

For 15 years you've given us hope

For years you've explored a new world

The surface of Mars, once unknown to our kind,

By you has been brought to light

You showed us that there's hope for a new, better future

A future that isn't on Earth

You gave us inspiration for moving forward

A gift we'll carry forever

But the real gift you gave

Is unscientific

Beyond NASA's comprehension

You showed us resilience, my dear robotic friend

Only destined to live 90 days,

You braved Mars, and lived 5,475

15 years, in more common terms

A true hero to us all

We'll miss you, dear rover

Thank you for the Opportunity to see Mars

Thank you, for all you've done

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you, Opportunity, for exploring Mars, and showing us a whole new planet. We'll never forget you.

#ThanksOppy

[blackbird-brewster]

#ThanksOppy