And the pertinent question is,....
does it contains a US Robotics modem that Val Kilmer can use in the future to cobble together a radio to call Earth?
NASA is trying to reactivate its Martian rover Opportunity after it switched itself into standby mode during a communications quiet period, but engineers have had no luck as yet at restoring control. The space agency hasn't been communicating with its Martian rovers for the last few weeks as there has been a solar conjunction …
Bet there are a few tight buttocks @ mission control...
For a machine that has somewhat outlasted its design specs (my first extraterrestrial understatement)?
I don't think so. It will offer someone a challenge to make it start again regardless, but the machine was officially written off ages ago. Having said that, making it work AGAIN regardless would be a *seriously* cool hack.
If those devices were any closer together they could get one to trundle over, swat any residual Martians off the reset button, clean its windows and solar shields and get it on its way again. IMHO, that would be so übercool it would provoke a Martian winter all on its own..
"You didn't. It has. Its in trouble."
IT'S in trouble. Sigh.
In any case, it was designed to last for three months. It's still running nine years later. So, yes they did, and it was. If it's now in trouble, it's probably because it's physically worn out.
When did you last design and build ANYTHING that lasted thirty six times longer than it was intended to?