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Which mission first placed a rover on Mars?

Quick Answer

NASA’s Sojourner, carried by Mars Pathfinder, was the first rover to operate on Mars. It landed on 4 July 1997.

The Full Story

The first rover to operate on Mars was Sojourner, part of NASA’s Mars Pathfinder mission. It landed on 4 July 1997 and explored the Martian surface for several weeks. Sojourner was small, roughly the size of a microwave oven, but it proved that mobile robotic exploration on Mars was feasible. Its success laid the groundwork for later rovers such as Spirit, Opportunity, Curiosity and Perseverance.

Key Facts

1.Landing date: 4 July 1997
2.Rover: Sojourner
3.Mission: Mars Pathfinder

YouTube Angle

Suggested video title for this topic:

"The tiny rover that opened the Martian frontier."

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