The Mars Rovers

Mars rovers are robots that drive around on Mars. They take pictures and study rocks and soil. Scientists on Earth control them from millions of miles away. The rovers help us learn about the red planet.

Famous Rovers

The first successful rover on Mars was Sojourner in 1997. Later came Spirit, Opportunity, and Curiosity. The newest rover is called Perseverance. Each one has gotten bigger and smarter than the last.

A close look at the Curiosity rover's camera on Mars.
A close look at the Curiosity rover's camera on Mars. (NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS / Wikimedia Commons)

What They Look For

Rovers search for clues about water and life on Mars. They drill into rocks and study the dust. They also check the weather and take amazing photos. Perseverance even brought a tiny helicopter called Ingenuity.

Fun Facts

  • Opportunity kept working for over 14 years, much longer than planned.
  • Mars rovers have six wheels to handle rough ground.
  • It can take over 20 minutes for signals to travel between Earth and Mars.

Did You Know?

Ingenuity was the first helicopter to ever fly on another planet!