Chapter 1: A Historic Moment

The night marked the last communication with Opportunity, and I was present to witness the emotional farewell.

In "The Darkroom" above NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), the Opportunity team gathered, filled with anticipation regarding the fate of our beloved rover. Steve Squyres, the principal investigator for Opportunity, made his way up the dimly lit staircase. After shaking hands with everyone, he took a moment to gaze out over the Mission Operations floor, remarking, “It’s been an incredible journey.”

This journey spanned 5,111 Martian days, or "sols," and covered more than 45 kilometers of the Martian landscape. Along the way, we encountered fascinating discoveries such as "blueberries," signs of ancient water, and various meteorites. Despite surviving a formidable global dust storm, the question lingered: would Opportunity endure another?

The atmosphere in The Darkroom was reminiscent of a reunion, with attendees calling out names as they arrived: “There’s Larry!” “Oh, Keri is here!” “Hi, Fred!” Among the crowd was Jon Proton, who has possibly commanded more Martian images than anyone else, and Paolo Bellutta, who has driven a rover further than any human has in space. As a newcomer to the Opportunity team, having joined merely three years ago, I felt somewhat out of place among veterans who had dedicated their careers to this mission.

We eventually moved to the room famous for Curiosity's landing, where its team had celebrated with exuberance. NASA’s associate administrator for science, Thomas Zurbuchen, stood alongside Squyres, JPL Director Mike Watkins, Mars Exploration Rovers Project Manager John Callas, and Flight System Chief Engineer Rob Manning. Zurbuchen confirmed that we would be transmitting the final planned commands to Opportunity that evening. If no response came from the rover, it would signal the official end of the Mars Exploration Rover mission.

As emotions began to surface, Squyres fought back tears while reflecting on the remarkable legacy of this resilient rover. Tactical Uplink Lead Keri Bean, known for her passion for Star Wars, brought stuffed “emotional support porgs” to comfort those needing a squeeze during this bittersweet announcement—reminding us all that at their core, these robotic missions are deeply human.

After the briefing, we returned to The Darkroom to witness the final four command sets sent to Opportunity via NASA’s Deep Space Network. Since it was past 9 p.m., the giant radio dishes communicating with Opportunity were being operated from Canberra, Australia. The room buzzed with reflection and discussion as the first three commands were dispatched over approximately 25 minutes, with the iconic JPL peanuts being shared for good luck.

Then came the moment when the last command was sent to Mars: “Final radiation complete.” A hush fell over the room.

Project Manager Callas monitored a small screen for any sign of a return signal, while we all strained to see from above in The Darkroom. The silence stretched on. When the moment finally arrived, Callas moved to an old-fashioned wired phone among the flight controllers to call the Deep Space Network station in Canberra:

“On behalf of the MER Project, we extend our gratitude to the DSN for over 15-and-a-half years of exceptional support, from launch until tonight. This support has been pivotal in the success of our mission, and once again, the DSN has helped us make history. Thank you.”

Canberra responded with their own expressions of gratitude, but Callas concluded with the heart-wrenching words: “MER Project is off the net.” Communication officially ceased at 9:35 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.

A brief applause erupted as Callas hung up, but soon The Darkroom was enveloped in silence. No one seemed to know what to do next—stay, leave, cry, or celebrate? The emotional weight in that small room was palpable, a moment suspended in sorrow. I sensed that no one was quite ready to leave The Darkroom and step back into the world, now minus one rover.

Zurbuchen articulated it beautifully that night: “Machines are a manifestation of teams.” Humans designed this robotic emissary and sent it to a world we cannot yet explore ourselves. It faithfully roamed Mars for over 50 times longer than expected. Lives changed—people got married, babies were born, and friendships blossomed—all while this rover was on its journey. It carried parts of us with it, and those pieces remain intertwined with the Martian dust.

The last words I heard as I began to exit The Darkroom came from an unnamed Opportunity team member: “13/10 would science again.”

Chapter 2: Reflecting on Opportunity's Legacy

This video, titled "Goodbye, Oppy - This Is Why NASA Opportunity Rover Was Incredible," captures the essence of Opportunity's journey and the profound impact it had on both science and the people involved.

In this second video, "Opportunity's Last Message to NASA & Remembering Oppy," we delve into the emotional final moments of the mission and reflect on the legacy Opportunity left behind.