In an unprecedented turn of events, NASA's Perseverance Rover has incited outrage across the globe, as it is accused of 'stealing Martian air' following its first successful oxygen extraction from the Red Planet.
The extractor, a pioneering device named 'MOXIE' (Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment), has now been labeled 'Martian Air Thief' on various social media platforms. This furor has prompted responses ranging from the incredulous to the downright comical.
Legendary Twitter user @stellardan69 posted, Just how did the Mars rover hold its breath this long? Our robot's a burglar!
This post alone garnered 50,000 likes and started a trending hashtag, #GiveMarsItsAirBack.
Renowned conspiracy theorist and radio host, Vinny 'The Vortex' Moretti questioned the ethics of the operation, stating: If we're not careful, we could find ourselves in a full-on inter-planetary air-pocalypse. Who's gonna step up and defend Mars?
The ignominy didn't end there. College student and aspiring science fiction author, Becky Sanderson, created waves with a blog post sharing mock-ups of Perseverance served with an eviction notice from Martian officials and the rover clutching an air bag labeled 'Swag', she turned this scientific achievement into an excellently-crafted work of digital art and speculation.
Rumblings of an inter-planetary lawsuit have been heard, and fictitious planetary lawyer Bruce 'Red Sand' Saunders, has supposedly been garnering support for this cosmic court battle. Illegally sucking the life force out of Mars. It's not just morally questionable, it's galactic robbery,
Saunders told our reporter.
Breaking their silence amid the controversy, NASA officials issued a statement last evening, stating, We appreciate the unbridled enthusiasm and imaginative responses our Mars mission has generated. Rest assured, Perseverance is not depriving Mars of its non breathable air. Martians' imaginary rights are fully unviolated.
As it stands, Perseverance seems set to continue 'robbing' Mars, amidst the conspiracy and unnecessary concerns echoing around our very own Blue Planet.
Based on: NASA™'s Perseverance Mars Rover Extracts First Oxygen from Red Planet