Mars rover still silent as red planet dust storm goes global

Image Source: NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSS / MGN
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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) - A dust storm at Mars is now global, keeping NASA's Opportunity rover out of touch with Earth.

Flight controllers lost contact with the rover more than a week ago. At the time, the dust storm covered one-fourth of Mars. NASA said Wednesday the storm now encircles the red planet, with only tall volcano peaks and the poles exposed to the sun.

Without sunlight, the solar-powered Opportunity can only hunker down and wait for the sky to clear.

NASA's nuclear-powered rover Curiosity is unaffected and is studying the extreme weather conditions. Mars hasn't seen a storm like this since 2007.
