Mars Opportunity Rover

‘American Opportunity’ 16 x 20 oil on gelatin silver print original, $2600.

                                                                                                                                                               

Mars Opportunity Rover launch

Delta 2 Heavy

The second of the ‘2003' Mars rovers, Opportunity, launched on the first-ever Delta 2 Heavy. Once on Mars, it happened across and photographed the first meteorite (made of solid iron) ever found on another planet. The rovers were named in a contest for school children, and the winner was Sofi Collis, age 9, an American transplanted from Russia:

‘I used to live in an Orphanage.
It was dark and cold and lonely.
At night, I looked up at the sparkly sky and felt better.
I dreamed I could fly there.
In America, I can make all my dreams come true . . .
Thank-you for the "Spirit" and the "Opportunity" ‘ (source, Wikipedia)