Main Engine Cut Off

In the meantime, the rover must endure freezing overnight temperatures, putting thermal stress on Opportunity’s internal components. Callas said the rover is equipped with eight one-watt plutonium heat sources and simulations indicate it should be able to withstand the lowest expected temperatures without major damage.

“Because the rover’s not active, it will be getting colder,” Callas said. “The good news there is the dust storm has warmed temperatures on Mars. We’re also going into the summer season, and so the rover will not get as cold as it would normally.

“We’ve done an estimate that shows the rover should stay above its minimum allowable operating temperatures for the long term, so we should be able to ride out the storm. When the skies clear and the rover begins to power up, it should begin to communicate with us.”