After more than a decade driving across the surface of Mars, the NASA rover, named Opportunity has fallen silent.  This marks the end of a history-defining mission to another planet. It had traveled over 28 miles on the barren planet since its landing date of January 25, 2004. Initially meant to only last no longer than 90 days by the expectations of NASA scientists and engineers, it continued to function. Opportunity lasted even longer than its twin rover, Spirit, which stopped transmitting in March of 2010.

Being one of the six rovers that have landed on the red planet, Opportunity made some of the most pivotal discoveries concerning the knowledge we have about our solar system. When it started its journey, one of the first things it found was the discovery of the first known meteorite on the planet. Toward the end of its life, it was key in the final confirmation that there was once water on the desert planet. This may not seem like a large or groundbreaking discovery, but it shows that Mars’ history may not have been so lifeless and desolate as once believed.

The effort to prove that the universe isn’t so barren after all has been one of the main missions since its conception in 1958. This is why NASA creates such astonishing inventions, many of them used in daily life here down on Earth. These inventions include things such as car thermometers, memory foam, emergency blankets, scratch-resistant lenses, and even artificial limbs. These are all created by pe0ple who started out with small dreams and big aspirations.                                                                       

Over the past 61 years since NASA launched the first ever satellite into Earth’s orbit jump-starting the age of space exploration and conquest, humans have accomplished astonishing feats. From just putting up satellites to what may be considered the most impressive achievement in all of human history, putting men on the moon. This event sparked curiosity in the minds of children who have grown up to aspire for more. This is why school programs such as Oakmont’s technology clubs and science classes are so because they allow young people to begin to shape the technology of the future.