The 15-year-old rover is presumed to be covered in dust, which is preventing its solar panels from generating electricity to power its instruments and motor. 

The Opportunity was originally launched in 2003, alongside its twin rover Spirit, with a planned 90-day mission to investigate soil and rock samples and take panoramic photos of its landing site.

While Spirit has not operated since 2010 after getting stuck in soft soil, Nasa repeatedly extended Opportunity’s lifespan in the time since to carry out further study of the Martian landscape.

Nasa said it will issue a final series of recovery commands, on top of more than 1,000 already sent. If there is no response by Wednesday, which Nasa suspects will be the case, Opportunity will be declared dead.

Team members are already looking back at Opportunity’s achievements, including confirmation water once flowed on Mars.

Opportunity was, by far, the longest-lasting lander on Mars. Besides endurance, the six-wheeled rover set a roaming record of 45km. Both Opportunity and Spirit outlived and outperformed expectations, on opposite sides of Mars.

The golf cart-size rovers were designed to operate as geologists for just three months, after bouncing onto our planetary neighbour inside cushioning air bags in January 2004. They launched from Cape Canaveral a month apart in 2003.

It is no easier saying goodbye now to Opportunity, than it was to Spirit, project manager John Callas said.

“It’s just like a loved one who’s gone missing, and you keep holding out hope that they will show up and that they’re healthy,” he said. “But each passing day that diminishes, and at some point you have to say “enough” and move on with your life.”

The 15-year-old rover is presumed to be covered in dust, which is preventing its solar panels from generating electricity to power its instruments and motor. 

The Opportunity was originally launched in 2003, alongside its twin rover Spirit, with a planned 90-day mission to investigate soil and rock samples and take panoramic photos of its landing site.

While Spirit has not operated since 2010 after getting stuck in soft soil, Nasa repeatedly extended Opportunity’s lifespan in the time since to carry out further study of the Martian landscape.

Nasa said it will issue a final series of recovery commands, on top of more than 1,000 already sent. If there is no response by Wednesday, which Nasa suspects will be the case, Opportunity will be declared dead.

Team members are already looking back at Opportunity’s achievements, including confirmation water once flowed on Mars.

Opportunity was, by far, the longest-lasting lander on Mars. Besides endurance, the six-wheeled rover set a roaming record of 45km. Both Opportunity and Spirit outlived and outperformed expectations, on opposite sides of Mars.

The golf cart-size rovers were designed to operate as geologists for just three months, after bouncing onto our planetary neighbour inside cushioning air bags in January 2004. They launched from Cape Canaveral a month apart in 2003.

It is no easier saying goodbye now to Opportunity, than it was to Spirit, project manager John Callas said.

“It’s just like a loved one who’s gone missing, and you keep holding out hope that they will show up and that they’re healthy,” he said. “But each passing day that diminishes, and at some point you have to say “enough” and move on with your life.”