On March 9, 2004, NASA launched the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity, part of a twin-rover mission alongside Spirit. This launch aimed to explore the Martian surface and seek signs of past water. Opportunity successfully landed on January 25, 2004, and worked far beyond its expected lifetime, providing invaluable data about Mars.

The primary location for Opportunity’s mission was Meridiani Planum, a large plain on Mars noted for its hematite deposits, which indicate past water presence. The rover carried scientific instruments designed to analyze Martian geology.

What would you do if you had the chance to visit Mars and operate a rover?