Sojourner Rover

mars · robots · space exploration · first

Landed on Mars. Sojourner touched down on Mars on July 4, 1997, as part of the Mars Pathfinder mission. It was a huge celebration because no wheeled vehicle had ever explored another planet before.

Small but mighty. Sojourner was tiny compared to later Mars rovers, about the size of a microwave oven on wheels. Despite its small size, it could drive around and study rocks and soil on the Martian surface.

92 sols of work. A sol is a Martian day, which is about 39 minutes longer than an Earth day. Sojourner explored Mars for 92 sols, which gave scientists amazing information about the Red Planet.

Explored Ares Vallis. Sojourner rolled around in a region called Ares Vallis, which scientists think was once filled with water. Finding rocks and minerals there helped prove that Mars had water long ago.