Anatomy of a Mars Rover

  • By Lexi Krock
  • Posted 11.01.08
  • NOVA

In January 2004, Spirit and Opportunity, two identical robotic rovers, entered the martian atmosphere after a seven-month journey from Earth. The twin rovers made one intriguing discovery after another, and they far outlasted their proposed lifespans. Here, examine this hardy pair of robotic geologists and their sophisticated scientific instruments.

Launch Interactive Printable Version

Examine the robotic geologists Spirit and Opportunity and their suite of scientific instruments.

Credits

Images

(illustrations)
© Cornell University/NASA/JPL and Dan Maas

Related Links

  • Ultimate Mars Challenge

    In its search for life beyond Earth, NASA employs a "sky crane" maneuver to land the Curiosity rover on Mars.

  • Is There Life on Mars?

    The decades-long search for life on the Red Planet heats up with the discovery of frozen water.

  • Can We Make It to Mars?

    See new space suits, foods, and rockets that may support future Mars-bound astronauts, and meet a Mars rover driver.

  • Space Kids

    Engineers who landed the Curiosity rover on Mars recall their early love of space.

Close

You need the Flash Player plug-in to view this content.