NASA still keeps hope for Mars Opportunity rover

NASA's Mars Opportunity rover has had a difficult year. A dust storm sustained on Mars caused the rover's loss of contact with NASA and things have been struggling street since.

In August, NASA gave Opportunity, the little Martian rover who could, 45 days to resume contact. That time is up, but NASA has once again called for not giving up hope.

In mid-October, NASA stated that it hoped that strong winds would remove the dust that, in its view, would hinder Opportunity's ability to reconnect.

"A windy period on Mars – known to the Opportunity team as" the dusting season "- takes place from November to January and has already cleared the vehicle's panels," explained NASA. "The team still hopes that some of the dust will allow the listener to be heard during this time."

In the two weeks that followed, NASA reviewed the strategy. He therefore decided not to abandon the Rover until at least January 2019.

"After a review of the progress of the listening campaign, NASA will continue its current strategy to try to make contact with Mobile Opportunity in the near future," NASA explained in a new update. Winds could increase over the next few months at the Opportunity location on Mars, which would result in dust from the solar panels of the rover. The agency will reassess the situation in January 2019.

NASA plans to send a new rover to Mars in 2020, but hopes to maintain its current rovers in the meantime.