NASA Opportunity Mars Rover Cross Stitch Pattern "Oppy" Tribute Stitch - Instant PDF Download

On February 12, 2019, NASA engineers and scientists made their last attempt to contact the MER-B (Mars Exploration Rover B) on the surface of Mars. The rover, nicknamed Opportunity, had been silent since the previous June, when a dust storm engulfed the entire red planet. Three days after the skies were shrouded in this enormous atmospheric event, on June 12 2018, Opportunity sent its final status update before entering into hibernation. That final transmission was poetically translated by science writer Jacob Margolis thus:

"My battery is low, and it's getting dark."

"Oppy" had exceeded its operating period expectations by 5,500%, sending back images, data, and reports from Mars for 5,111 sols rather than the 90 it had been designed to last. Over that time, it became something of an anthropomorphic hero and symbol for the indomitable spirit of human exploration. Many people cried at its eventual decommission.

This pattern marks the anniversary of NASA's final attempt to contact MER-B Opportunity (transmitting Billie Holiday's "I'll be Seeing You". It features a cross stitched rendering of the rover, alone on the surface of Mars, dutifully sending in its last status report before hunkering down for the apocalyptic months-long dust storm that proved to be the one hurdle Oppy couldn't overcome.

Details:
Formats: 2 PDF pattern files
1pg color+symbols for printing or digital devices
1pg symbols-only with contrasting backstitch
Size: 63x82 stitches (see images for sizing on different fabric counts)
Stitches used: full X, backstitch
Colors: 11 DMC colors; no specialty threads
Difficulty: ⚫⚪⚪⚪⚪ Easy
If you need help handling any of the stitches used in this pattern, check out my youtube tutorials.



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