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Unfortunately, a global dust storm earlier this year may have sealed the fate of our vehicle. The space agency has been trying to reestablish communications with the Mars mobile for weeks, but so far the machine has not responded. Opportunity has entered a state similar to that of a hibernation last summer after being unable to recharge its batteries; Since then, everything has remained silent, but NASA hopes that a windy season will change that.
In late August, NASA announced that the global dust storm on Mars was subsiding and that Opportunity would soon have enough sun to recharge its batteries. If that happens, it would reactivate the rover and start a process that would involve resuming communication with the Earth and eventually with the various rover missions.
Unfortunately, NASA said on September 11 that it still had not heard from Opportunity despite measurements showing adequate light levels. The mobile team has increased the frequency of orders sent to the mobile, while NASA explained that a number of things could have happened. Even if Opportunity wakes up, explained the space agency, it is possible that a permanent reduction in the capacity of its battery reduces its life.
In mid-October, NASA stated that a full month of increase in order frequency had not resulted in an Opportunity response. The space agency has informed the public that the dust may be to blame – if a fairly thick layer of dust covered the solar panels, the mobile could not recharge.
Fortunately, Mars is about to enter a windy period called "dust removal season" and she hopes the solar panels will be cleaned up … if that's the problem.
NASA said earlier this month that it does not have a deadline for rover Opportunity's efforts, but that it will have its action plan by the end of the month. NASA announced today that it will reassess the situation of the rover Opportunity in January 2019. This would give Mars winds enough time to remove the dust from the rover and bring it back to life, hopefully.
SOURCE: NASA
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