The Opportunity rover, Spirit’s twin, was also tasked with
studying the rocks of Mars and learning more about the red planet. Opportunity
was launched on July 7, 2003 and landed January 24, 2004. The mission length
was meant to be 92.5 Earth days, however the mission is still ongoing.
Opportunity,
like all rovers carries specific equipment to help it active its science goals. Opportunity’s Scientific Payload includes; Panoramic Camera (Pancam): for determining the mineralogy,
texture, and structure of the local terrain. Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer (Mini-TES): for identifying promising rocks and soils for
closer examination and for determining the processes that formed Martian rocks.
The instrument is designed to look skyward to provide temperature profiles of the Martian atmosphere. Mössbauer Spectrometer (MB): for close-up
investigations of the mineralogy of iron-bearing rocks and soils. Alpha
Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS): for close-up analysis of the abundances
of elements that make up rocks and soils. Magnets: for collecting magnetic dust particles. The Mössbauer Spectrometer and the Alpha Particle
X-ray Spectrometer are designed to analyze the particles collected and help
determine the ratio of magnetic particles to non-magnetic particles. They can
also analyze the composition of magnetic minerals in airborne dust and rocks
that have been ground by the Rock Abrasion Tool. Microscopic Imager (MI):
for obtaining close-up, high-resolution images of rocks and soils. Rock
Abrasion Tool (RAT): for removing dusty and weathered rock surfaces and
exposing fresh material for examination by instruments on board.
During its time on Mars, Opportunity
has been able to take several high resolution, full color images and send them
back to Earth for viewing by scientists and the public. On March 24, 2015
Opportunity traveled 26.2221 miles with is only slightly longer then an Olympic
Marathon. The yellow line below shows the distance the rover has traveled. The
distance is cumulative as it makes its way from 
Eagle
Crater to Marathon Valley. Opportunity has given invaluable research on Mars and its environment to assist in our understanding of the planet. The
most notable of these is the discovery of the previous existence of water
in ancient creek beds. In the
summer of 2005 Opportunity was able to succeed where it's twin
failed. The rover found itself stuck in a sandy dune but was able to dig
itself out. Opportunity is still on Mars running
tests and studying the surface of Mars. Although it does so now with Curiosity,
one never forgets their twin.
“Spirit and Opportunity,” National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, http://mars.nasa.gov/programmissions/missions/present/2003/
“NASA”S Opportunity Mars Rover
Passes Marathon Distance,” National
Aeronautics and Space Administration,
http://mars.nasa.gov/mer/newsroom/pressreleases/20150324a.html
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/19933973/ns/technology_and_science-space/t/how-rovers-changed-our-view-mars/#.Vv2lXEc5TIA
