Question 1

True or false: A global dust storm in 2018 blocked sunlight, causing Opportunity to lose power and eventually die.

Accepted Answer

True. A massive 2018 dust storm blotted out the sun, draining Opportunity's solar batteries; NASA declared the mission over in 2019.

Question 2

True or false: Opportunity was powered by nuclear batteries, not solar panels.

Accepted Answer

False. Opportunity used solar panels, not nuclear power; only the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers use radioisotope thermoelectric generators.

Question 3

True or false: Opportunity carried a microphone to record the sound of Martian wind.

Accepted Answer

False. No microphone was on Opportunity; the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover was the first to record sound on Mars.

Question 4

True or false: Opportunity’s twin rover, Spirit, outlasted Opportunity on the Martian surface.

Accepted Answer

False. Spirit lasted about 6 years, while Opportunity operated for over 14 years—making Opportunity the longer-surviving twin.

Question 5

True or false: Opportunity found hematite spheres, nicknamed 'blueberries,' which formed in liquid water.

Accepted Answer

True. These small gray hematite nodules, called blueberries, were key evidence of past liquid water on Mars.

Question 6

True or false: Opportunity's original mission was planned to last only 90 days but it survived over 14 years.

Accepted Answer

True. NASA designed Opportunity for a 90-sol mission, but it operated for 14 years, 4 months, far exceeding expectations.

Question 7

True or false: Opportunity was the first rover to climb a mountain on another planet.

Accepted Answer

False. Spirit rover climbed the Columbia Hills; Opportunity only reached the rim of Endeavour Crater, not a mountain.

Question 8

True or false: Opportunity discovered evidence that Mars once had acidic water, not neutral water.

Accepted Answer

True. Opportunity found sulfate-rich rocks indicating ancient acidic water, unlike the neutral water found by later rovers.

Mars Rover Opportunity Trivia Questions