Mars rover

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A Mars Rover is an unmanned land vehicle for exploration of the planet Mars.

[edit] Introduction

Photograph of a Martian sunset taken by Spirit at Gusev crater, May 19th, 2005.

Five rovers have been sent to Mars so far, and two are currently scheduled to be launched:

• Mars 2 Prop-M rover, 1971
• Mars 3 Prop-M rover, 1971
• Sojourner, Mars Pathfinder, July 4, 1997
• Spirit, Mars Exploration Rover, January 4, 2004
• Opportunity, Mars Exploration Rover, January 25, 2004
• Mars Science Laboratory
• ExoMars

Mars 2 and 3 landers launched in 1971 had small 4.5 kg Mars 'rovers' on board called Prop-M, which would move across the surface on skis while connected to the lander with a 15-meter umbilical. Because of the demise of the landers, neither rover saw action.

The first successful Mars Rover, called Sojourner, was sent to Mars by NASA on December 4, 1996 and successfully landed on Mars on July 4, 1997. The Chief of Engineering for this Rover team was NASA's Jacob Matijevic.

NASA used a new, larger design for the two Mars Exploration Rovers: Spirit launched on June 10, 2003 and Opportunity launched on July 7, 2003. Spirit landed in Gusev crater on January 4, 2004 and Opportunity landed in the Meridiani Planum on the opposite side of Mars from Spirit, on January 25, 2004.

So far all Mars Rovers have been small robotic vehicles intended to travel only a few hundred meters. All three NASA rovers have exceeded their planned missions both in distance travelled and operating time.

Wheel size comparison: Mars Pathfinder, Mars Exploration Rover, Mars Science Laboratory.

[edit] See also

• Exploration of Mars
• Space exploration
• Unmanned space mission

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