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Chatterbox: Down to Earth
WHY am I
WHY am I just now hearing about Opportunity?
Opportunity, Oppy for short, is a rover NASA sent to Mars. It was only supposed to be a 90 day mission, but she ended up staying up there for 15 years working for us. 15 or more, I guess, because Opportunity isn't coming home.
I know she did everything she was supposed to do, and it's amazing that she was able to collect data and information for us for fifteen years. Oppy was the one to discover water on Mars.
Her time's up now, but I'm still a bit sad. She would have continued to research and help us, but was caught in a dust storm. Her camera and a few of her solar panels were damaged, I believe.
Opportunity was just a robot, but she did so much for us. Maybe when we reach Mars, whether it's in ten or two hundred years, we'll give her the thanks she deserves.
Her last words were just a small data dump, but simplified, they're quote poetic;
"My battery is low and it's getting dark."
RIP Oppy. You were a good rover.
submitted by The Girl Next Door, age 14, Washington
(February 20, 2019 - 8:16 pm)
(February 20, 2019 - 8:16 pm)
Oh you've started me on another journey of mars rover sadness. I have always had too much sympathy for space robots. When I was about nine and heard that Spirit, Opportunity's twin, had fallen into a ravine and broken I started sobbing. I knew, on some level, that robots couldn't have feelings but I was so upset that Opportunity would be wandering about on Mars, all alone. Just all alone on a planet so far away. The poor lonely robot. Anyway, when I heard that Opportunity had died last week I cried. And I cried again the next day when NPR talked about it and played Life On Mars. The rover worked so hard and was all alone on Mars and now it's gone. It's so sad.
I think I've dumped my feelings for space robots on you enough, have a good day.
(February 20, 2019 - 10:52 pm)
(February 21, 2019 - 8:47 am)
I cried about Opportunity. I get so excited over robots and rovers and other wonderful mechanical things. It's so amazing what we could create, and how we respond to their activity almost like we'd respond to a pet's. Robots are definitely going to take over the planet some day, but if they're all like Spirit and Oppy and Curiosity, I'd be completely fine with that.
(February 22, 2019 - 9:50 pm)
What's truly amazing is that she was only supposed to last for NINETY DAYS. I wonder if batteries work differently on different planets because of the *goes of on a scientific rabbit hole tangent*
(February 21, 2019 - 11:34 am)
I'm such a nerd when it comes to space and everything in it! The rovers and planet itself just fascinate me!
(February 22, 2019 - 9:52 pm)
I have always had intrest in space/space travel and this makes me so sad *sinks into squashy chair and begins to cry*
(February 21, 2019 - 3:26 pm)
"My battery is low and it's getting dark."
*runs away crying*
(February 21, 2019 - 4:25 pm)
Basically me when I heard
(February 22, 2019 - 9:53 pm)
I actually only heard of her after Abigail wrote a poem about it, and I loved it so MUCH that I was ranting 'bout it to my family (and I made them all read it) and they're like... who's Oppy?
But the poem makes me CRY. Go on the regular poetry thread. One of the lines I can remember is "what strength it takes to mourn a brain of code ad scripted lines." Ahhhh *sobs*
(February 24, 2019 - 10:18 pm)
Ya, I’m late because I wasn’t on the CB, but regardless, Rest In Peace, Opportunity. Thanks for showing us your planet. I hope we see you again some day.
(February 26, 2019 - 1:16 am)
I don't think I knew about Oppy (you're right, her last words are HEARTBREAKING), but on a slightly related note, have any of you seen Wall-E?
(NOT meaning to distract from this conversation, I promise)
Wall-E is sorta my fav movie of all time and I freak out every time I see it, so yeah . . .
(February 27, 2019 - 2:09 pm)
Do I know Wall-E?! I LOVE Wall-E!! I have such intense emotions for robots.
(February 27, 2019 - 10:03 pm)
I hadn’t heard of Oppy before I read Abi’s poem (which is incredible, by the way), but her story is so amazing and sad and touching. And I just had to hop on here and say—on the last post I made, Nugget. Said. Oppy. Yeah. No joke.
Ahhhh, ‘my battery is low and it is getting dark’! It’s so beautiful and heartbreaking...rest in peace, little robot.
(February 27, 2019 - 10:40 pm)
And the screenshot to prove it—
(February 27, 2019 - 10:41 pm)
I haven't been keeping up with this but--NUGGET. *choke* Omigosh, he's sentient and uncanny.
Hazel is making a sound of disbelief: "xcdz".
(February 28, 2019 - 10:31 am)