For Valentines Day I think it's worth showing a little love for NASA's Mars rover Opportunity that completed a 14-year mission this week. People love to complain about government waste and inefficiencies but much of the scientific and technological advances the world benefits from, and much of the intellectual advances we enjoy are due to the hard work of engineers and scientists at places like NASA (and NOAA, USGS, DOI, EPA, etc.). The Opportunity is but one example of the thousands of examples of government doing something and doing it exceptionally well to a level the private sector hasn't touched.
Opportunity was an incredible success and should be celebrated.
Opportunity was an incredible success and should be celebrated.
