Grok-Pedia

Mars-Exploration-Rover-Mission

Mars Exploration Rover Mission

The Mars Exploration Rover Mission was part of NASA's long-term program of exploring the red planet. Launched in 2003, this mission involved two identical rovers named Spirit and Opportunity, which were designed to search for and characterize a wide range of rocks and soils that hold clues to past water activity on Mars.

Historical Context

The mission was a follow-up to the Mars Pathfinder mission, which had successfully landed the Sojourner rover on Mars in 1997. The success of Pathfinder demonstrated the feasibility of rover missions on Mars, leading to the development of the more advanced Mars Exploration Rovers.

Mission Objectives

Launch and Landing

Spirit was launched on June 10, 2003, and landed on Mars on January 4, 2004. Opportunity followed, with a launch on July 7, 2003, and a landing on January 25, 2004. Both rovers landed on opposite sides of Mars, with Spirit exploring Gusev Crater and Opportunity examining the Meridiani Planum.

Scientific Instruments

Each rover was equipped with a suite of scientific instruments:

Mission Achievements

End of Mission

Spirit ceased communications in March 2010, likely due to getting stuck in soft soil and losing its ability to move. Opportunity was last heard from on June 10, 2018, after a planet-encircling dust storm blocked out sunlight needed for its solar panels. NASA officially ended the mission on February 13, 2019.

Sources

Related Topics

Recently Created Pages