(AP) NASAs seemingly unstoppable Mars rover Opportunity has been knocked out by a gigantic dust storm that is enveloping the red planet and blotting out the sun.
Officials said Wednesday theyre hopeful the rover will survive the storm, which already covers one-quarter of Mars and is expected to encircle the planet in another few days. It could be weeks or even months, though, until the sky clears enough for sunlight to reach the Martian surface and recharge Opportunitys batteries through its solar panels.
For now, Mars oldest working rover is stuck in the middle of the raging storm, in round-the-clock darkness.
By no means are we out of the woods here, said John Callas, Opportunity project manager. This storm is threatening, and we dont know how long it will last, and we dont know what the environment will be like once it clears.
Flight controllers tried late Tuesday night to contact Opportunity, but the rover did not respond.
