View source for Astronomy:Mars rover

{{Short description|Robotic vehicle for Mars surface exploration}}
[[File:Curiosity Self-Portrait at 'Big Sky' Drilling Site.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|NASA's ''Curiosity'' rover, selfie, 2015]]

A '''Mars rover''' is a remote-controlled motor vehicle designed to travel on the surface of [[Astronomy:Mars|Mars]]. [[Astronomy:Rover (space exploration)|Rovers]] have several advantages over stationary [[Engineering:Lander (spacecraft)|landers]]: they examine more territory, they can be directed to interesting features, they can place themselves in sunny positions to weather winter months, and they can advance the knowledge of how to perform very remote [[Engineering:Robot|robot]]ic vehicle control. They serve a different purpose than orbital spacecraft like ''[[Astronomy:Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter|Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter]]''. A more recent development is the Mars helicopter.

{{As of|2021|05}}, there have been six successful robotically operated Mars rovers; the first five, managed by the American NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, were (by date of Mars landing): ''[[Engineering:Sojourner (rover)|Sojourner]]'' (1997), ''[[Engineering:Spirit (rover)|Spirit]]'' (2004–2010), ''[[Engineering:Opportunity (rover)|Opportunity]]'' (2004–2018), ''[[Engineering:Curiosity (rover)|Curiosity]]'' (2012–present), and ''[[Engineering:Perseverance (rover)|Perseverance]]'' (2021–present). The sixth, managed by the [[Organization:China National Space Administration|China National Space Administration]], is ''[[Engineering:Zhurong (rover)|Zhurong]]'' (2021–2022).

On January 24, 2016, [[Organization:NASA|NASA]] reported that then [[Organization:Timeline of Mars Science Laboratory#Current status|current studies]] on Mars by ''Opportunity''  and ''Curiosity'' would be searching for evidence of ancient life, including a [[Biology:Biosphere|biosphere]] based on [[Biology:Autotroph|autotroph]]ic, [[Biology:Chemotroph|chemotroph]]ic or [[Biology:Lithotroph#Chemolithotrophs|chemolithoautotrophic]] [[Biology:Microorganism|microorganism]]s, as well as ancient water, including [[Earth:Lacustrine plain|fluvio-lacustrine environments]] ([[Earth:Plain|plain]]s related to ancient [[Earth:River|river]]s or [[Earth:Lake|lake]]s) that may have been [[Astronomy:Planetary habitability|habitable]].<ref name="SCI-20140124a">{{cite journal |last=Grotzinger |first=John P. |title=Introduction to Special Issue - Habitability, Taphonomy, and the Search for Organic Carbon on Mars |journal=Science |date=January 24, 2014 |volume=343 |number=6169 |pages=386–387 |doi=10.1126/science.1249944 |pmid=24458635|bibcode = 2014Sci...343..386G |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="SCI-20140124special">{{cite journal |title=Special Issue - Table of Contents - Exploring Martian Habitability |url=https://www.science.org/toc/science/343/6169 |date=January 24, 2014|journal=Science |volume=343 |number=6169 |pages=345–452 |access-date=24 January 2014 }}</ref><ref name="SCI-20140124">{{cite journal |title=Special Collection - Curiosity - Exploring Martian Habitability |url=https://www.science.org/action/doSearch?AllField=Curiosity+Mars|date=January 24, 2014 |journal=Science |access-date=January 24, 2014 }}</ref><ref name="SCI-20140124c">{{cite journal |author=Grotzinger, J.P. |title=A Habitable Fluvio-Lacustrine Environment at Yellowknife Bay, Gale Crater, Mars |date=January 24, 2014 |journal=Science |volume=343 |number=6169 |doi=10.1126/science.1242777 |display-authors=0 |pmid=24324272 |page=1242777|bibcode = 2014Sci...343A.386G |citeseerx=10.1.1.455.3973 |s2cid=52836398 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-12-30|title=Planetary Scientists Have Created a Map of Mars' Entire Ancient River Systems|url=https://www.universetoday.com/149441/planetary-scientists-have-created-a-map-of-mars-entire-ancient-river-systems/|access-date=2020-12-31|website=Universe Today|language=en-US}}</ref> The search for evidence of [[Astronomy:Planetary habitability|habitability]], [[Earth:Taphonomy|taphonomy]] (related to fossils), and organic carbon on Mars is now a primary NASA objective.<ref name="SCI-20140124a" /><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Changela|first1=Hitesh G.|last2=Chatzitheodoridis|first2=Elias|last3=Antunes|first3=Andre|last4=Beaty|first4=David|last5=Bouw|first5=Kristian|last6=Bridges|first6=John C.|last7=Capova|first7=Klara Anna|last8=Cockell|first8=Charles S.|last9=Conley|first9=Catharine A.|last10=Dadachova|first10=Ekaterina|last11=Dallas|first11=Tiffany D.|date=December 2021|title=Mars: new insights and unresolved questions|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/international-journal-of-astrobiology/article/mars-new-insights-and-unresolved-questions/F0E43D7EC62EA126262CB66DF069ABA0|journal=International Journal of Astrobiology|language=en|volume=20|issue=6|pages=394–426|doi=10.1017/S1473550421000276|arxiv=2112.00596 |bibcode=2021IJAsB..20..394C |s2cid=244773061 |issn=1473-5504}}</ref>

The Soviet probes, [[Astronomy:Mars 2|Mars 2]] and [[Astronomy:Mars 3|Mars 3]], were physically tethered probes; ''Sojourner'' was dependent on the [[Astronomy:Mars Pathfinder|Mars Pathfinder]] base station for communication with Earth; ''Opportunity'', ''Spirit'' and ''Curiosity'' were on their own. As of November 2023,<!-- Don't use CURRENTMONTHNAME/CURRENTYEAR, actually check it --> ''Curiosity'' is still active, while ''Spirit'', ''Opportunity'', and ''Sojourner'' completed their missions before losing contact. On February 18, 2021, ''Perseverance'', the newest American Mars rover, successfully landed.  On May 14, 2021, China's ''Zhurong'' became the first non-American rover to successfully operate on Mars.

==Missions==
Multiple rovers have been dispatched to Mars:
[[File:Tianwen-1 Lander and Zhurong Rover in Southern Utopia Planitia (ESP 069665 2055-1).jpg|thumb|right|alt=Rover and lander captured by HiRISE from NASA's MRO on June 6, 2021|''Zhurong'' rover and lander captured by HiRISE from NASA's ''MRO'' on 6 June 2021]]
=== Active ===
* {{flagdeco|USA}} ''[[Engineering:Curiosity (rover)|Curiosity]]'' of the [[Organization:Mars Science Laboratory|Mars Science Laboratory]] (MSL) mission by NASA, was launched November 26, 2011<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref name="NYT-MSL">{{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={{wipe|New York Times}}|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> and landed at the [[Astronomy:Aeolis Palus|Aeolis Palus]] plain near Aeolis Mons (informally "Mount Sharp")<ref name="IAU-20120516">{{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}}</ref><ref name="NASA-20120327">{{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=[[Organization:NASA|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}}</ref><ref name="NASA-20120328">{{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=[[Organization:NASA|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}}</ref><ref name="Space-20120329">{{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}}</ref> in [[Astronomy:Gale (crater)|Gale Crater]] on August 6, 2012.<ref name="Gale Crater">{{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}}</ref><ref name="Gale Crater2">{{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}}</ref><ref name="Gale Crater3">{{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}}</ref> The ''Curiosity'' rover is still operational as of January 2024.

* {{flagdeco|USA}} ''[[Engineering:Perseverance (rover)|Perseverance]]'', NASA rover based on the successful ''Curiosity'' design. Launched with the [[Astronomy:Mars 2020|Mars 2020]] mission on July 30, 2020, it landed on February 18, 2021.<ref>{{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}}</ref> It carried the [[Astronomy:Mars Helicopter Ingenuity|Mars Helicopter ''Ingenuity'']] attached to its belly.

=== Past ===
[[File:PIA01551.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|{{center|''Sojourner'' disembarks Mars Pathfinder base station lander on the surface of planet Mars}}]]
*{{flagdeco|USA}} ''[[Engineering:Sojourner (rover)|Sojourner]]'' rover, [[Astronomy:Mars Pathfinder|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}}.<ref name="Sojourner">{{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}}</ref>

* {{flagdeco|USA}} ''[[Engineering:Spirit (rover)|Spirit]]'' (MER-A), [[Astronomy:Mars Exploration Rover|Mars Exploration Rover]] (MER), launched on June 10, 2003,<ref name="Mars Exploration">{{cite web|date=10 August 2012|title=Mars Exploration|url=http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/launch_e.html|access-date=2012-08-10}}</ref> and landed on January 4, 2004. Nearly 6 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> The last communication received from the rover was on March 22, 2010, and NASA ceased attempts to re-establish communication on May 25, 2011.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

* {{flagdeco |USA}} ''[[Engineering:Opportunity (rover)|Opportunity]]'' (MER-B), Mars Exploration Rover, launched on July 7, 2003<ref name="Mars Exploration" /> and landed on January 25, 2004. ''Opportunity'' surpassed the previous records for longevity at 5,352 [[Astronomy:Sol (day on Mars)|sol]]s (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 [[Engineering:Opportunity mission timeline#Dust storm|2018 Mars dust storm]] blocked the sunlight needed to recharge its batteries.<ref name="nasa.gov">{{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}}</ref> After hundreds of attempts to reactivate the rover, NASA declared the mission complete on February 13, 2019.

* {{flagdeco|China}} ''[[Engineering:Zhurong (rover)|Zhurong]]'' launched with the Tianwen-1 [[Organization:China National Space Administration|CNSA]] Mars mission on July 23, 2020, landed on May 14, 2021 in the southern region of [[Astronomy:Utopia Planitia|Utopia Planitia]], and deployed on May 22, 2021, while dropping a remote selfie camera on 1 June, 2021.<ref>{{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/}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> Designed for a lifespan of 90 sols (93 Earth days),<ref>{{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 }}</ref> ''Zhurong'' had been active for 347 sols (356.5 days) since its deployment and traveled on Mars's surface for {{cvt|1921|m|ft}}.<ref name="zhurong_2205">{{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 }}</ref> Since 20 May 2022, the rover was deactivated due to approaching sandstorms and Martian winter.<ref name="nature_230120">{{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}}</ref><ref name="vice_2303">{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/xgwqpa/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 }}</ref> 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".<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

===Failed===
* {{flagicon image|Flag of the Soviet Union.svg}} ''[[Astronomy:Mars 2|Mars 2]]'', ''[[Astronomy:PrOP-M|PrOP-M]]'' rover, 1971, ''Mars 2'' landing failed taking Prop-M with it. The ''Mars 2'' and ''3'' spacecraft from the Soviet Union had identical 4.5&nbsp;kg ''Prop-M'' rovers. They were to move on [[Engineering:Ski|ski]]s while connected to the landers with cables.<ref name=Mars2_NSSDC>
{{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}}</ref>
* {{flagicon image|Flag of the Soviet Union.svg}} ''[[Astronomy:Mars 3|Mars 3]]'', ''[[Astronomy:PrOP-M|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.<ref name="Mars2_NSSDC" /> 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.

===Planned===
*  {{flagdeco |EU}} {{flagdeco |Russia}}  The European-Russian [[Astronomy:ExoMars|ExoMars]] rover [[Engineering:Rosalind Franklin (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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
* {{flagdeco |Russia}} {{flagdeco |India}} The Russian [[Organization:Moscow Aviation Institute|Moscow Aviation Institute]] and the Indian IIT are jointly developing a fixed-wing Mars [[Engineering:Unmanned aerial vehicle|UAV]] which {{As of|lc=yes|March 2023}} is scheduled for launch in late 2025.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

===Proposed===
* {{flagdeco |Japan}}  The [[Organization:JAXA|JAXA]] Melos rover was supposed to be launched in 2022. JAXA has not given an update since 2015.
* {{flagdeco|USA}} [[Organization:NASA|NASA]] [[Astronomy:Mars Geyser Hopper|Mars Geyser Hopper]]
* {{flagdeco|IND}} [[Astronomy:ISRO|ISRO]] has proposed a Mars rover as part of Mangalyaan-3, its third Mars mission in 2030.<ref name="roadmap22">{{Citation|author1=Neeraj Srivastava|author2=S. Vijayan|author3=Amit Basu Sarbadhikari|work=Planetary Sciences Division (PSDN), [[Organization:Physical Research Laboratory|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}}</ref>

===Undeveloped===
* Marsokhod was proposed to be a part of Russian [[Astronomy:Mars 96|Mars 96]] mission.
* [[Organization:Astrobiology Field Laboratory|Astrobiology Field Laboratory]], proposed in the 2000-2010 period as a follow on to MSL.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
* [[Astronomy:Mars Astrobiology Explorer-Cacher|Mars Astrobiology Explorer-Cacher]] (MAX-C), cancelled 2011<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>
* [[Astronomy:Mars Surveyor 2001|Mars Surveyor 2001]] rover<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=MS2001R | title=NASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - Details}}</ref>
* ''Mars Tumbleweed Rover'', a spherical wind-propelled rover.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>[https://www.nasa.gov/missions/earth/f_tumbleweed.html The Tumbleweed Rover is on a Roll.] Anna Heiney, KSC NASA. 11 March 2004.</ref>
* In 2018, a kind of cushion-air rover was proposed,<ref name=arias16>{{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}}</ref> which in contrast with traditional hovercraft does not use blowers to pressurize the gas in the chamber but rather uses stored pressurized CO<sub>2</sub> obtained from a freezing process which does not require mechanical compression.<ref name=arias17>{{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 }}</ref>

==Timeline of rover surface operations==
<div class="left" style="max-width:100%; overflow:auto;">
{| align="center"
| {{#tag:timeline|
#Rover Surface Operations

ImageSize  = width:1200 height:auto barincrement:18
PlotArea   = left:50 right:130 bottom:20 top:10
AlignBars  = late

Colors =
  id:NASA      value:blue  # National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  id:CNSA      value:red # China National Space Administration

DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy
Period     = from:1997 till:{{#time:m/d/Y}}
TimeAxis   = orientation:horizontal
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:5  start:1997
ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1  start:1997

Define $today = {{#time:m/d/Y}}

Define $dx = 25

BarData =
  bar:Sojourner
  bar:Spirit
  bar:Opportunity
  bar:Curiosity
  bar:Perseverence
  bar:Zhurong

PlotData=
  width:5 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till

  bar:Sojourner
  from:07/04/1997   till:09/27/1997   color:NASA   text:[[Engineering:Sojourner (rover)|Sojourner]]

  bar:Spirit
  from:01/04/2004   till:03/22/2010   color:NASA   text:[[Engineering:Spirit (rover)|Spirit]]

  bar:Opportunity
  from:01/25/2004   till:06/10/2018   color:NASA   text:[[Engineering:Opportunity (rover)|Opportunity]]

  bar:Curiosity
  from:08/06/2012   till:end   color:NASA   text:[[Engineering:Curiosity (rover)|Curiosity]]

  bar:Perseverence
  from:02/18/2021   till:end   color:NASA   text:[[Engineering:Perseverance (rover)|Perseverance]]

  bar:Zhurong
  from:05/14/2021   till:05/20/2022   color:CNSA   text:[[Engineering:Zhurong (rover)|Zhurong]]
}}
|}
</div>

==Examples of instruments==
[[File:PIA16161-Mars Curiosity Rover-MAHLI.jpg|thumb|''Curiosity's'' (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|thumb|''Opportunity''{{'}}s first self-portrait including the camera mast on Mars<br />(February 14−20, 2018 / sols 4998−5004). It was taken with its microscopic imager instrument.]]

Examples of instruments onboard landed rovers include:
* [[Astronomy:Alpha particle X-ray spectrometer|Alpha particle X-ray spectrometer]] (MPF + MER + MSL)
* [[Engineering:CheMin|CheMin]] (MSL)
* [[Chemistry:Chemistry and Camera complex|Chemistry and Camera complex]] (MSL)
* [[Engineering:Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons|Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons]] (MSL)
* [[Engineering:Hazcam|Hazcam]] (MER + MSL + M20)
* [[Astronomy:MarsDial|MarsDial]] (MER + MSL + M20)
* [[Astronomy:Materials Adherence Experiment|Materials Adherence Experiment]] (MPF)
* [[Astronomy:MIMOS II|MIMOS II]] (MER)
* [[Physics:Mini-TES|Mini-TES]] (MER)
* Mars Hand Lens Imager (MSL)
* [[Engineering:Navcam|Navcam]] (MER + MSL + M20+TW1)
* Pancam (MER)
* [[Engineering:Rock Abrasion Tool|Rock Abrasion Tool]] (MER)
* [[Astronomy:Radiation assessment detector|Radiation assessment detector]] (MSL)
* [[Engineering:Rover Environmental Monitoring Station|Rover Environmental Monitoring Station]] (MSL)
* [[Astronomy:Sample Analysis at Mars|Sample Analysis at Mars]] (MSL)
* [[Astronomy:Atmospheric entry|EDL]] cameras on Rover (MSL + M20+TW1) 
*[[Engineering:Cachecam|Cachecam]] (M20) 
* Mastcam-Z (M20) 
* [[Engineering:Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer|MEDA]] (M20) 
* [[Microphone]]s (M20+TW1) 
* [[Engineering:Mars Oxygen ISRU Experiment|MOXIE]] (M20) 
* PIXL (M20) 
* [[Engineering:RIMFAX|RIMFAX]] (M20)
* SHERLOC (M20) 
* [[Unsolved:SuperCam|SuperCam]] (M20) 
*  Remote Camera (TW1) 
{{clear}}

== Mars landing locations ==
{{Mars map indicating landers}}
[[File:PIA24320-MarsLandingSites-20201216.jpg|thumb|center|600px|<div align="center">Mars Landing Sites (December 16, 2020)</div>]]

==NASA Mars rover goals==

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 [[Engineering:Space technology|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".<ref>{{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  }}</ref>

The four science goals of NASA's long-term [[Astronomy:Mars Exploration Program|Mars Exploration Program]] are:
* Determine whether life ever arose on Mars
* Characterize the [[Astronomy:Climate of Mars|climate of Mars]]
* Characterize the [[Astronomy:Geology of Mars|geology of Mars]]
* Prepare for human exploration of Mars<ref>{{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  }}</ref>
{{wide image|MarsPanoramaa.jpg|800px|align-cap=center|Panorama of [[Astronomy:Husband Hill|Husband Hill]] taken by the [[Engineering:Spirit (rover)|''Spirit'' rover]] (November 2005)}}

==Gallery==

<div align=center>
<gallery caption="Mars rovers" widths="150px" heights="150px">
Image:Sojourner on Mars PIA01122.jpg|''Sojourner'' rover on Mars
Image:h rover-comp wheels 02.jpg|Comparison of wheels: Mars ''Sojourner'' rover, MER, MSL
Image:Mars Science Laboratory mockup comparison.jpg|Comparison (2008): MER, ''Sojourner'' rover, MSL
Image:PIA15279 3rovers-stand D2011 1215 D521.jpg|Comparison (2011): MER, ''Sojourner'' rover, humans, MSL
</gallery></div>

{{Wide image |Opportunity Heat Shield.jpg|500px|[[Engineering:Opportunity (rover)|''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|center|thumb|330x330px|Comparison of the distances travelled by various Mars rovers]]

==See also==
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Astronomy:Astrobiology|Astrobiology]]
* Comparison of embedded computer systems on board the Mars rovers
* [[Astronomy:Crewed Mars rover|Crewed Mars rover]]
* [[Astronomy:InSight|InSight lander]]
* [[Astronomy:List of artificial objects on Mars|List of artificial objects on Mars]]
* [[Astronomy:List of missions to Mars|List of missions to Mars]]
* [[Astronomy:List of rovers on extraterrestrial bodies|List of rovers on extraterrestrial bodies]]
* [[Astronomy:Mars Exploration Rover|Mars Exploration Rover]]
* [[Astronomy:Mars-Grunt|Mars-Grunt]]
* [[Astronomy:Mars Pathfinder|Mars Pathfinder]]
* [[Astronomy:Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter|Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter]]
* [[Astronomy:2001 Mars Odyssey|2001 Mars Odyssey]]
* Moon rover
** [[Astronomy:Lunar Roving Vehicle|Lunar Roving Vehicle]]
* [[Engineering:Radiation hardening|Radiation hardening]]
* Scientific information from the Mars Exploration Rover mission
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist|35em}}

==External links==
* [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)
* [https://cooltechunder.com/blog/post/all-rovers-on-mars All Rovers on Mars]

{{NASA navbox}}
{{Mars spacecraft}}

[[Category:Mars]]
[[Category:Missions to Mars|+rovers]]
[[Category:Landers (spacecraft)]]

{{Sourceattribution|Mars rover}}