mars rover

{{See also|List of missions to Mars}}

Multiple rovers have been dispatched to Mars:

File:Tianwen-1 Lander and Zhurong Rover in Southern Utopia Planitia (ESP 069665 2055-1).jpg from NASA's MRO on 6 June 2021]]

• {{flagdeco|USA}} Curiosity of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission by NASA, was launched November 26, 2011{{cite web|date=26 November 2011|title=Mars Science Laboratory Launch|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/launch/index.html|access-date=2011-11-26|archive-date=2017-05-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170520061039/https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/launch/index.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|date=26 November 2011|title=NASA Launches Super-Size Rover to Mars: 'Go, Go!'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2011/11/26/science/AP-US-SCI-Mars-Rover.html|access-date=2011-11-26|work=New York Times|agency=Associated Press}} and landed at the Aeolis Palus plain near Aeolis Mons (informally "Mount Sharp"){{cite web|author=USGS|date=16 May 2012|title=Three New Names Approved for Features on Mars|url=https://astrogeology.usgs.gov/HotTopics/index.php?/archives/447-Three-New-Names-Approved-for-Features-on-Mars.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728141903/http://astrogeology.usgs.gov/HotTopics/index.php?%2Farchives%2F447-Three-New-Names-Approved-for-Features-on-Mars.html|archive-date=28 July 2012|access-date=28 May 2012|publisher=USGS}}{{cite web|author=NASA Staff|date=27 March 2012|title='Mount Sharp' on Mars Compared to Three Big Mountains on Earth|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/pia15292-Fig2.html|access-date=31 March 2012|publisher=NASA|archive-date=7 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507134815/https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/pia15292-Fig2.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last=Agle|first=D. C.|date=28 March 2012|title='Mount Sharp' On Mars Links Geology's Past and Future|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/news/msl20120328.html|access-date=31 March 2012|publisher=NASA|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303205729/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/news/msl20120328.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|author=Staff|date=29 March 2012|title=NASA's New Mars Rover Will Explore Towering 'Mount Sharp'|url=http://www.space.com/15097-mars-mountain-sharp-curiosity-rover.html|access-date=30 March 2012|publisher=Space.com}} in Gale Crater on August 6, 2012.{{cite web|last1=Webster|first1=Guy|last2=Brown|first2=Dwayne|date=22 July 2011|title=NASA's Next Mars Rover To Land At Gale Crater|url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2011-222#1|access-date=2011-07-22|publisher=NASA JPL|archive-date=2012-06-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120607022755/http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2011-222#1}}{{cite web|last1=Chow|first1=Dennis|date=22 July 2011|title=NASA's Next Mars Rover to Land at Huge Gale Crater|url=http://www.space.com/12394-nasa-mars-rover-landing-site-unveiled.html|access-date=2011-07-22|publisher=Space.com}}{{cite news|last1=Amos|first1=Jonathan|date=22 July 2011|title=Mars rover aims for deep crater|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14249524|access-date=2011-07-22}} The Curiosity rover is still operational as of 2025.
• {{flagdeco|USA}} Perseverance is NASA's rover based on the successful Curiosity design. Launched with the Mars 2020 mission on July 30, 2020, it landed on February 18, 2021.{{cite news|date=18 February 2021|title=Nasa's Perseverance rover lands on Mars|newspaper=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-56119931|access-date=2021-02-18}} It carried the Mars helicopter Ingenuity attached to its belly. Although Ingenuity's mission has ended, Perseverance remains operational as of March 2025.

File:PIA01551.jpg base station lander on the surface of planet Mars}}]]

• {{flagdeco|USA}} Sojourner rover, Mars Pathfinder, landed successfully on July 4, 1997. Communications were lost on September 27, 1997. Sojourner had traveled a distance of just over {{convert|100|m|ft|sp=us}}.{{cite web|title=Sojourner|url=http://spacepioneers.msu.edu/robot_rovers/sojourner.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320062255/http://spacepioneers.msu.edu/robot_rovers/sojourner.html|archive-date=2015-03-20}}
• {{flagdeco|USA}} Spirit (MER-A), Mars Exploration Rover (MER), launched on June 10, 2003,{{cite web|date=10 August 2012|title=Mars Exploration|url=http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/launch_e.html|access-date=2012-08-10}} and landed on January 4, 2004. Nearly six years after the original mission limit, Spirit had covered a total distance of {{convert|7.73|km|mi|abbr=on}} but its wheels became trapped in sand.{{Cite news|last=Boyle|first=Alan|title=Good moves on Mars|publisher=MSNBC|url=http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2010/01/21/2181157.aspx|access-date=2010-01-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100123192540/http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2010/01/21/2181157.aspx|archive-date=2010-01-23}} The last communication received from the rover was on March 22, 2010, and NASA ceased attempts to re-establish communication on May 25, 2011.{{Cite news|date=May 24, 2011|title=NASA Concludes Attempts To Contact Mars Rover Spirit|publisher=NASA|url=http://marsrover.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20110524a.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928165859/http://marsrover.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20110524a.html|archive-date=September 28, 2011}}
• {{flagdeco |USA}} Opportunity (MER-B), Mars Exploration Rover, launched on July 7, 2003 and landed on January 25, 2004. Opportunity surpassed the previous records for longevity at 5,352 sols (5498 Earth days from landing to mission end; 15 Earth years or 8 Martian years) and covered {{convert|45.16|km|mi|abbr=on}}. The rover sent its last status on 10 June 2018 when a global 2018 Mars dust storm blocked the sunlight needed to recharge its batteries.{{cite web|title=Mars Exploration Rover Mission: All Opportunity Updates|url=https://mars.nasa.gov/mer/mission/status_opportunityAll.html|access-date=31 October 2018|website=mars.nasa.gov}} After hundreds of attempts to reactivate the rover, NASA declared the mission complete on February 13, 2019.
• {{flagdeco|China}} Zhurong launched with the Tianwen-1 CNSA Mars mission on July 23, 2020, landed on May 14, 2021, in the southern region of Utopia Planitia, and deployed on May 22, 2021, while dropping a remote selfie camera on 1 June 2021.{{Cite web |last=Gebhardt |first=Chris |date=February 10, 2021 |title=China, with Tianwen-1, begins tenure at Mars with successful orbital arrival |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/02/china-ready-to-begin-mars-tenure-with-tianwen-1-orbit-insertion/}}{{Cite web |title=First Chinese Mars probe successfully landed with a rover |url=https://www.golem.de/news/zhurong-erste-chinesische-marssonde-mit-rover-erfolgreich-gelandet-2105-156507.html |website=www.golem.de}} Designed for a lifespan of 90 sols (93 Earth days),{{cite web|url=https://www.space.com/china-mars-rover-zhurong-studies-dunes |title=China's Zhurong Mars rover scopes out dunes on journey south |website=Space.com |date=30 July 2021 |first=Andrew |last=Jones }} Zhurong had been active for 347 sols (356.5 days) since its deployment and traveled on Mars's surface for {{cvt|1921|m|ft}}.{{cite web | url=https://www.space.com/china-mars-rover-zhurong-first-winter | title=China's Mars rover Zhurong is hunkering down for its 1st Red Planet winter | website=Space.com | date=11 May 2022 }} Since 20 May 2022, the rover was deactivated due to approaching sandstorms and Martian winter.{{cite journal |last1=Mallapaty |first1=Smriti |title=What's happened to China's first Mars rover? |journal=Nature |date=20 January 2023 |doi=10.1038/d41586-023-00111-3 |pmid=36670252 |s2cid=256056375 |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-00111-3 |access-date=10 February 2023 |language=en|url-access=subscription }}{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/china-mars-rover-zhurong-space/ |title=China's Mars Rover Has Not Moved Since September, NASA Images Revealed |website= Vice News |date=13 March 2023 |first= Rachel |last=Cheung }} But the larger-than-expected build-up of dust covering its solar panels prevented it from self-reactivation. On 25 April 2023, the mission designer Zhang Rongqiao announced that the buildup of dust from the last inactivation is greater than planned, indicating the rover could be inactive "forever".{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com.au/news/innovation/space-force-updates-chinas-mars-rover-is-stuck-sleeping/ |title=China's Mars rover is stuck sleeping after harsh martian winter |website=Forbes |first=Robert |last=Hart |date=25 April 2023 }}

• {{flagicon image|Flag of the Soviet Union.svg}} Mars 2, PrOP-M rover, 1971, Mars 2 landing failed, destroying Prop-M with it. The Mars 2 and 3 spacecraft from the Soviet Union had identical {{convert|4.5|kg}} Prop-M rovers. They were to move on skis while connected to the landers with cables.

{{Cite web |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1971-045D |title=Mars 2 Lander

|publisher=NASA NSSDC |access-date=2008-06-25}}

• {{flagicon image|Flag of the Soviet Union.svg}} Mars 3, PrOP-M rover, landed successfully on December 2, 1971. {{Convert|4.5|kg|lb}} rover tethered to the Mars 3 lander. Lost when the Mars 3 lander stopped communicating about 110 seconds after landing. The loss of communication may have been due to the extremely powerful Martian dust storm taking place at the time, or an issue with the Mars 3 orbiter's ability to relay communications.

• {{flagdeco |EU}} ESA's ExoMars rover Rosalind Franklin was confirmed technically ready for launch in March 2022 and planned to launch in September 2022, but due to the suspension of cooperation with Roscosmos this is delayed until at least 2028. A fast-track study was started to determine alternative launch options.{{Cite web |title=Rover ready – next steps for ExoMars |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Exploration/ExoMars/Rover_ready_next_steps_for_ExoMars |access-date=2022-04-23 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}
• {{flagdeco |Russia}} {{flagdeco |India}} The Russian Moscow Aviation Institute and the Indian IIT are jointly developing a fixed-wing Mars UAV which {{As of|lc=yes|March 2023}} is scheduled for launch in late 2025.{{Cite news|title=Russia and India jointly developing Mars UAV|url=https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-india-develope-marsoplane-to-study-red-planets-atmosphere-surface-568063|date=March 2023|access-date=3 March 2023}}

• {{flagdeco |Japan}} The JAXA Melos rover was supposed to be launched in 2022. JAXA has not given an update since 2015.
• {{flagdeco|USA}} NASA Mars Geyser Hopper
• {{flagdeco|IND}} ISRO has proposed a Mars rover as part of Mars Lander Mission, its second Mars mission in 2030.{{Citation|author1=Neeraj Srivastava|author2=S. Vijayan|author3=Amit Basu Sarbadhikari|work=Planetary Sciences Division (PSDN), Physical Research Laboratory|title=Future Exploration of the Inner Solar System: Scope and the Focus Areas|via=ISRO Facebook Panel Discussion, Mars Orbiter Mission National Meet|date=2022-09-27}}
• Mars Tumbleweed Rover, a spherical wind-propelled rover. The concept was first investigated by NASA in the early 2000s.{{cite news |url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/langley/news/releases/2003/03-029.html |title=A new way to explore the surface of Mars |date= May 13, 2003 |author=Kimberly W. Land |publisher=NASA |access-date=2011-04-04}}[https://www.nasa.gov/missions/earth/f_tumbleweed.html The Tumbleweed Rover is on a Roll.] Anna Heiney, KSC NASA. 11 March 2004. Since 2017, Team Tumbleweed has been developing a series of Tumbleweed Rovers. The research organization aims to land a swarm of 90 Tumbleweed rovers on the Martian surface by 2034.{{cite web |url=https://www.teamtumbleweed.eu/our-vision/ |website=Team Tumbleweed |access-date=30 April 2024 |title=Our Vision }}

• Marsokhod was proposed to be a part of Russian Mars 96 mission.
• Astrobiology Field Laboratory, proposed in the 2000-2010 period as a follow on to MSL.{{Cite web|url=http://www1.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mars/missions/beyond-index.html|title=NASA - Missions to Mars|date=October 15, 2006|website=nasa.gov|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061015100540/http://www1.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mars/missions/beyond-index.html|archive-date=2006-10-15}}
• Mars Astrobiology Explorer-Cacher (MAX-C), cancelled 2011{{cite news | first = Peter B. | last = de Selding | title = ESA Halts Work on ExoMars Orbiter and Rover | date = 20 April 2011 | url = http://www.spacenews.com/civil/110420-esa-halts-work-exomars.html | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120524180452/http://www.spacenews.com/civil/110420-esa-halts-work-exomars.html | archive-date = May 24, 2012 | work = Space News | access-date = 2011-04-21}}{{cite news | first = Amy | last = Svitak | title = U.S., Europe Plan Single-rover Mars Mission for 2018 | date = 18 April 2011 | url = http://www.spacenews.com/civil/110418-single-rover-mars-mission-2018.html | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120524180453/http://www.spacenews.com/civil/110418-single-rover-mars-mission-2018.html | archive-date = May 24, 2012 | work = Space News | access-date = 2011-04-21}}
• Mars Surveyor 2001 rover{{Cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=MS2001R | title=NASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - Details}}
• Cushion-air rovers{{cite conference | last1=Arias|first1=Francisco. J |book-title=2018 Joint Propulsion Conference |title=CO2-Cushion Vehicle for Mars. An Alternative Locomotion for Exploration Rovers |publisher=American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics |date=2018 |doi=10.2514/6.2018-4492|isbn=978-1-62410-570-8 |s2cid=240375295}}{{cite conference |last1=Arias|first1=Francisco. J |book-title=2018 International Energy Conversion Engineering Conference |title=A Method of Attaining High Pressurized Vessels in Space, the Moon and With Particular Reference to Mars |publisher=American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics |date=2018 |doi=10.2514/6.2018-4488|isbn=978-1-62410-571-5 |s2cid=240369235 }}

File:PIA16161-Mars Curiosity Rover-MAHLI.jpg (MSL) rover "hand" featuring a suite of instruments on a rotating "wrist". Mount Sharp is in the background (September 8, 2012).]]

File:PIA22222-Mars-OpportunityRover-FirstSelfie-20180220.jpg

Examples of instruments onboard landed rovers include:

• Alpha particle X-ray spectrometer (MPF + MER + MSL)
• CheMin (MSL)
• Chemistry and Camera complex (MSL)
• Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons (MSL)
• Hazcam (MER + MSL + M20)
• MarsDial (MER + MSL + M20)
• Materials Adherence Experiment (MPF)
• MIMOS II (MER)
• Mini-TES (MER)
• Mars Hand Lens Imager (MSL)
• Navcam (MER + MSL + M20+TW1)
• Pancam (MER)
• Rock Abrasion Tool (MER)
• Radiation assessment detector (MSL)
• Rover Environmental Monitoring Station (MSL)
• Sample Analysis at Mars (MSL)
• EDL cameras on Rover (MSL + M20+TW1)
• Cachecam (M20)
• Mastcam-Z (M20)
• MEDA (M20)
• Microphones (M20+TW1)
• MOXIE (M20)
• PIXL (M20)
• RIMFAX (M20)
• SHERLOC (M20)
• SuperCam (M20)
• Remote Camera (TW1)

{{clear}}

File:PIA24320-MarsLandingSites-20201216.jpg

Circa the 2010s, NASA had established certain goals for the rover program.

NASA distinguishes between "mission" objectives and "science" objectives. Mission objectives are related to progress in space technology and development processes. Science objectives are met by the instruments during their mission in space.

The science instruments are chosen and designed based on the science objectives and goals. The primary goal of the Spirit and Opportunity rovers was to investigate "the history of water on Mars".{{Cite web |url=http://marsrovers.nasa.gov/overview/ |title=Mars Exploration Rover Mission: Overview |publisher=marsrovers.nasa.gov |access-date=2008-06-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120828191910/http://marsrovers.nasa.gov/overview/ |archive-date=2012-08-28 }}

The four science goals of NASA's long-term Mars Exploration Program are:

• Determine whether life ever arose on Mars
• Characterize the climate of Mars
• Characterize the geology of Mars
• Prepare for human exploration of Mars{{Cite web |url=http://marsrovers.nasa.gov/science/ |title=Mars Exploration Rover Mission: Science – Looking for signs of past water on Mars |publisher=marsrovers.nasa.gov |access-date=2008-06-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080522134141/http://marsrovers.nasa.gov/science/ |archive-date=2008-05-22 }}

{{wide image|MarsPanoramaa.jpg|800px|align-cap=center|Panorama of Husband Hill taken by the Spirit rover (November 2005)}}

{{Wide image |Opportunity Heat Shield.jpg|500px|Opportunity rover later visited its heat shield impact site; it was ejected during the rover's descent and impacted the surface separately. }}

File:Mars Rover Comparison Distance Graph.svg

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Astrobiology
• Comparison of embedded computer systems on board the Mars rovers
• Crewed Mars rover
• InSight lander
• List of artificial objects on Mars
• List of missions to Mars
• List of rovers on extraterrestrial bodies
• Mars Exploration Rover
• Mars-Grunt
• Mars Pathfinder
• Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
• 2001 Mars Odyssey
• Moon rover
• Lunar Roving Vehicle
• Radiation hardening
• Scientific information from the Mars Exploration Rover mission

{{div col end}}

{{Reflist|35em}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120828191910/http://marsrovers.nasa.gov/overview/ NASA official Mars Rover website]
• [https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/targetFamily/Mars?subselect=Mission%3AMars+Pathfinder+%28MPF%29%3A Mars Pathfinder Gallery] (NASA)
• [http://www.nev-t-gigamacros.com/ Pictures of Mars by Rovers]
• [https://cooltechunder.com/blog/post/all-rovers-on-mars All Rovers on Mars]

{{Mars rovers}}

{{Features and artificial objects on Mars}}

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Category:Mars

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Category:Landers (spacecraft)

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