Marsrovers

Mars rovers are robotic vehicles designed to explore the surface of Mars, performing mobility-enabled investigations and relaying data to Earth via spacecraft. Unlike stationary landers, rovers can traverse varied terrain, carry a suite of scientific instruments, and select targets of interest. They are typically powered by solar panels or radioisotope thermoelectric generators and use autonomous navigation to avoid hazards, with mission control issuing commands periodically.

A rover mission generally includes a landing system to touch down on Mars, a roving body with wheels and suspension, an on-board computer, and a payload of scientific instruments. Some rovers also carry robotic arms for close-up sampling or analyses. Data collected on the surface are stored on the rover and transmitted to Mars orbiters, which relay information to Earth.

Notable missions include Sojourner, part of the Mars Pathfinder mission, which demonstrated mobile exploration in 1997; Spirit and Opportunity, twin rovers that landed in 2004, with Opportunity operating for many years and Spirit ceasing contact in 2010. Curiosity, landed in 2012 in Gale Crater, used a nuclear power source and advanced analytical tools to study ancient habitability. Perseverance, which landed in 2021 in Jezero Crater, carries the Mars sample caching system and hosts the Ingenuity helicopter, a technology demonstrator. China’s Zhurong rover landed in 2021 as part of the Tianwen-1 mission in Utopia Planitia.

Rover programs have significantly advanced understanding of Mars by providing detailed geological, climatic, and environmental data, helping to assess past habitability and the presence of water. Future missions aim to enhance mobility, sample return capabilities, and international collaboration, as exemplified by planned or proposed members of ExoMars and other exploration initiatives.