Sojourner was followed by Spirit and Opportunity, both landing on Mars in 2004.
That unfortunate malfunction led to a surprising discovery by Spirit.
Slow and steady
The Mars rovers are way slower than you think.
Models of NASA’s Sojourner, Spirit, and Curiosity rovers.Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech
But when it comes to the total distance traversed, the rovers are achingly slow.
The Curiosity rover is carrying a1909 VDB penny minted in Philadelphiaduring the first year that Lincoln cents became available.
Morse code tracks
Wherever Curiosity goes on Mars, it leaves behind aspecial messagedisguised in its trail.
The famous last words spread like wildfire, with some attributing the literal phrase to the robot.
Opportunity obviously didnt say thatit communicates in data and is completely devoid of sentience.
Comet spotter
NASAs Opportunity roversnapped the first-ever image of a cometfrom the surface of Mars.
News from the future, delivered to your present.
NASAs Mars Rover Captures a Giant Dust Devil Swallowing Its Friend
Mmmm, dusty.
