Opportunity Rover: A Cry for Attention?

With the Curiosity rover getting all of the attention these days, it was only a matter of time before the older Opportunity rover would pull a stunt to let us know she is still there (unlike her sister, Spirit, who is no longer functioning).  The two photos above are 12 days apart as Opportunity explores the Murray Ridge on the rim of Endeavour Crater (see bottom image).  Within that time a new rock appeared on the surface.

CNN and others were quick to report on a doughnut-sized rock that mysteriously appeared on the surface of Mars. The most likely explanation is that Opportunity kicked up the rock while traveling about.  But theories will always abound.  My theory is that Opportunity was getting a little lonely and wanted to let us know she is still working hard after all these years.

Luckily, NASA will hold a press conference later today to discuss the 10 year anniversary of the Opportunity mission on Mars.  The rover arrived on January 24, 2004.  Maybe that was all Opportunity really needed - a little appreciation. 

Note: For more images from Opportunity, visit the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. 

Update:  And now, another cry for attention.  For some odd reason, someone is now suing NASA over the presumably dislodged rock.  A private citizen, Rhawn Joseph, filed a petition January 27th in U.S. District Court in northern California.  In his petition, Mr. Joseph stated,

Any intelligent adult, adolescent, child, chimpanzee, monkey, dog or rodent with even a modicum of curiosity would approach, investigate and closely examine a bowl-shaped structure which appears just a few feet in front of them when 12 days earlier they hadn't noticed it...But not NASA and its rover team who have refused to take even a single close-up photo. 

An interesting approach to science.  And you too still have time to sue NASA for all of the craters and rocks missed by the Apollo crews during their Moon visits many decades ago.  I do not believe there is a statute of limitations on craziness.