NASA's Mars Rover pronounced dead

US space agency NASA has called time on its Mars Rover, Opportunity. The robot known as 'Oppy' and its twin robot, called Spirit, landed on Mars in January 2004 with the goal of investigating whether the planet ever had the conditions necessary to support life. NASA spokesperson Gay Yee-Hill says the six-wheeled Oppy, last contacted Earth in the middle last year, just before it was enveloped in the darkness of a global dust storm. But no word came and its now been officially pronounced dead. Engineers hoped Oppy would power back up when the skies cleared and sunlight hit its solar panels again The routine prompt commands that have been sent to Opportunity will now end.