Humans have always searched for new places to explore and new ways to get where they wanted. Where no human could (yet) go, we would send robots to do a job for us. Mars, one of our closest neighbours, is currently home to quite a few robotic devices, some of which are able to move around freely, roaming the wild, red sands and relaying their experience back to the mother planet.
Color coding for missions | |||
Failed | Successful | In progress | Planned |
Country/Agency | Rover | Date of landing | Operational time | Distance travelled | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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PROP-M rover | November 27, 1971 | 0 days | 0 km | Lost when it crash-landed on Mars |
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PROP-M rover | December 2, 1971 | 0 days | 0 km | Lost when Mars 3 lander stopped communicating about 20 seconds after landing |
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Sojourner | July 4, 1997 | 85 days | 100 m (330 ft) | First successful rover on Mars |
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Spirit | January 4, 2004 | 2269 days | 7.73 km (4.80 mi) | |
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Opportunity | January 25, 2004 | 5498 days | 45.16 km (28.06 mi) | The longest distance traveled by any rover and the most days operated |
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Curiosity | January 25, 2012 | 3214 days |
24.85 km (15.44 mi) as of 4 March 2021 |
Currently active |
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Perseverance | February 18, 2021 | 96 days |
322 m (1,056 ft) as of 14 May 2021 |
Currently active |
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Zhurong | May 14, 2021 | 11 days | Currently active | |
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Rosalind Franklin | 2023 (planned) | 420 days (planned) | Planned to launch 2022 |