News Archive / Tagged: Dust Storm

• What did Opportunity’s ‘last words’ actually mean?

  Jason RhianFebruary 17th, 2019

  "My battery is low and it's getting dark." This supposedly was the last message sent back to mission controllers on Earth by the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity. But is this actually what she "said?"

• Cassini data reveals another feature that suggests Titan is similar to Earth

  Laurel KornfeldSeptember 25th, 2018

  Is Titan similar to Earth? New data from the Cassini orbiter suggests it is.

• Inside Opportunity: Oppy still silent as dust storm begins to settle

  James RiceSeptember 1st, 2018

  It has been a long 80 days. We last heard from our rover on the slopes of Perseverance Valley back on June 10. However, we are continuing to listen diligently every day during our programmed fault communication windows, as well as through the Deep Space Network Radio Science Receiver. So far however - nothing.

• Martian storm chasers: Spacecraft observe dust storm

  Paul KnightlyJuly 30th, 2018

  A fleet of spacecraft are diligently studying the global dust storm currently encircling Mars. Much as storm chasers would do on Earth, they are collecting valuable data so that scientists can better understand how these storms form and evolve.

• Inside Opportunity: As dust storm continues to rage Oppy sleeps

  James RiceJuly 28th, 2018

  Our Opportunity Mars Exploration Rover, situated at the Red Planet's Perseverance Valley located on the western inner rim of Endeavour Crater, continues to remain silent due to the ongoing global dust storm. The storm has placed 'Oppy' into a mode designed to protect her in instances just like the one the golf cart-sized rover is currently enduring.

• Inside Opportunity: ‘Oppy’ fights for its life in massive Martian dust storm

  James RiceJuly 1st, 2018

  Our intrepid Opportunity rover is currently in the midst of riding out a massive global dust storm that began May 30. This storm moved south down the well-known Acidalia storm track into Xanthe Terra. A few days later the storm had stretched from eastern Valles Marineris to northern Arabia Terra. It then moved across the equator and south toward Meridiani Planum where Opportunity is located.

• Record-setting Mars dust storm was overdue

  Paul KnightlyJune 28th, 2018

  As a global dust storm imperils the Opportunity rover and encircles Mars, scientists are getting their best look yet into the rare phenomenon. Data gleaned from this rare atmospheric event could also help provide important clues as NASA develops plans for crewed landings on the surface of the Red Planet.

• Curiosity snaps photos of thickening haze as Martian dust storm goes global

  Tomasz NowakowskiJune 25th, 2018

  Despite being in the worse dust storm in recent years, NASA's Curiosity rover is sticking it out - and even managed to take a 'selfie' of itself.