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The Evolution of a Martian

This artist's illustration shows NASA's four successful Mars rovers (from left to right): Sojourner, Spirit and Opportunity, and Curiosity. The image also shows the upcoming Mars 2020 rover and a human explorer.

November 21, 2018

This artist's illustration shows NASA's four successful Mars rovers (from left to right): Sojourner, Spirit and Opportunity, and Curiosity. The image also shows the upcoming Mars 2020 rover and a human explorer.

Credits

NASA

ENLARGE

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The route of NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover – from its landing site on the floor of Jezero Crater to the ancient river delta, which it is currently exploring.
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The route of NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover – from its landing site on the floor of Jezero Crater to the ancient river delta, which it is currently exploring.
Perseverance's Route to the Delta
As the Curiosity rover hurdles toward Mars on the last leg of its journey, the Mars Science Laboratory Mission Operations Team assemble in Mission Control at the Space Flight Operations Facility at...
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As the Curiosity rover hurdles toward Mars on the last leg of its journey, the Mars Science Laboratory Mission Operations Team assemble in Mission Control at the Space Flight Operations Facility at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.
Team Gathers in Control Room
Tracks from the first drives of NASA's Curiosity rover are visible in this image captured by the High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
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Tracks from the first drives of NASA's Curiosity rover are visible in this image captured by the High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
A Rover's Journey Begins
This image depicts the demonstration vehicle used to prove that controlled, and sustained flight is feasible in a Martian atmosphere.
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This image depicts the demonstration vehicle used to prove that controlled, and sustained flight is feasible in a Martian atmosphere.
Mars Helicopter Prototype
NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity observed this outcrop on the "Murray Ridge" portion of the rim of Endeavour Crater as the rover approached the 10th anniversary of its landing on Mars.
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NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity observed this outcrop on the "Murray Ridge" portion of the rim of Endeavour Crater as the rover approached the 10th anniversary of its landing on Mars.
Outcrop on 'Murray Ridge' Section of Martian Crater Rim (False Color)
About 1000 Viking Orbiter red- and violet-filter images have been processed to provide global color coverage of Mars at a scale of 1 km/pixel.
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About 1000 Viking Orbiter red- and violet-filter images have been processed to provide global color coverage of Mars at a scale of 1 km/pixel.
Global Color Views of Mars
Parachute Opening During Tests for Mars Science Laboratory
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Parachute Opening During Tests for Mars Science Laboratory
Parachute Opening During Tests for Mars Science Laboratory
A model of NASA’s Mars Science Helicopter concept is shown in this photo. 
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A model of NASA’s Mars Science Helicopter concept is shown in this photo.
Model of Proposed Mars Science Helicopter
This September 2016 self-portrait of NASA's Curiosity Mars rover shows the vehicle at the "Quela" drilling location in the scenic "Murray Buttes" area on lower Mount Sharp. The panorama was stitche...
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This September 2016 self-portrait of NASA's Curiosity Mars rover shows the vehicle at the "Quela" drilling location in the scenic "Murray Buttes" area on lower Mount Sharp. The panorama was stitched together from multiple images taken by the MAHLI camera at the end of the rover's arm.
Curiosity Self-Portrait at 'Murray Buttes'
In the middle of this image, three wheels are shown raised by a lift, with engineers on both sides of the wheels in the cleanroom, where the Curiosity rover is being assembled. The wheels are made ...
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In the middle of this image, three wheels are shown raised by a lift, with engineers on both sides of the wheels in the cleanroom, where the Curiosity rover is being assembled. The wheels are made out of aluminum but have a black coating, which prevents the wheels from slipping. The wheels are attached to dark poles, which bend like 'joints.' Several black and red cable wires are visible coming out of the poles. An engineer stands in the background holding a clipboard and looking closely at the rover. A desk and various tools are visible behind the wheels on the right.
New Wheels
NASA Mars Rover Curiosity at JPL, Side View
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NASA Mars Rover Curiosity at JPL, Side View
NASA Mars Rover Curiosity at JPL, Side View
This view of the lower front and underbelly areas of NASA's Mars rover Curiosity was taken by the rover's Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) during the 34th Martian day, or sol, of Curiosity's work on M...
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This view of the lower front and underbelly areas of NASA's Mars rover Curiosity was taken by the rover's Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) during the 34th Martian day, or sol, of Curiosity's work on Mars (Sept. 9, 2012).
Belly Check for Curiosity
NASA’s Perseverance took a selfie looking down at one of 10 tubes the rover deposited at the sample depot it created in an area within Jezero Crater nicknamed “Three Forks.” This image was taken by...
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NASA's Perseverance Mars rover took a selfie with several of the 10 sample tubes it deposited at a sample depot it is creating within an area of Jezero Crater nicknamed "Three Forks."
Perseverance's Three Forks Sample Depot Selfie
This graphic shows results of the first analysis of Martian soil by the Chemistry and Mineralogy (CheMin) experiment on NASA's Curiosity rover.
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This graphic shows results of the first analysis of Martian soil by the Chemistry and Mineralogy (CheMin) experiment on NASA's Curiosity rover.
First X-ray View of Martian Soil
These dunes may be active today, but we haven't yet observed them at significantly different times to measure the movement.
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These dunes may be active today, but we haven't yet observed them at significantly different times to measure the movement.
Dunes on Ridges (3-D)
This stereo vista from the panoramic camera (Pancam) of NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity catches "Pillinger Point," on the western rim of Endeavour Crater, in the foreground. The image com...
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This stereo vista from the panoramic camera (Pancam) of NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity catches "Pillinger Point," on the western rim of Endeavour Crater, in the foreground.
'Pillinger Point' Overlooking Endeavour Crater on Mars (Stereo)
This full-resolution image shows one of the first views from NASA's Curiosity rover, which landed on Mars the evening of Aug. 5 PDT (early morning hours Aug. 6 EDT).
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This full-resolution image shows one of the first views from NASA's Curiosity rover, which landed on Mars the evening of Aug. 5 PDT (early morning hours Aug. 6 EDT).
Curiosity's Early Views of Mars
While Curiosity continues to blaze a trail to Mount Sharp, the rover takes time to shoot a Martian moon movie.
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The Odometer Keeps Turning
The Odometer Keeps Turning
This view of grains from a sand dune near Christmas Lake, Ore., was taken by a testing twin of the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) camera on NASA's Mars Science Laboratory.
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This view of grains from a sand dune near Christmas Lake, Ore., was taken by a testing twin of the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) camera on NASA's Mars Science Laboratory.
Test Image of Earth Sand by Mars Camera
The mesa in the center of this scene from the "Murray Buttes" area on Mars is longer than a football field. The panorama combines images taken by the Mastcam on NASA's Curiosity Mars rover on Aug. ...
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Cluster of Martian Mesas on Lower Mount Sharp, Sols 1438 and 1439
Cluster of Martian Mesas on Lower Mount Sharp, Sols 1438 and 1439
On Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the 197-foot-tall United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket arrives on the launch pad at Space Launch Complex-41, situated near the Atlantic Ocean.
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On Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the 197-foot-tall United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket arrives on the launch pad at Space Launch Complex-41, situated near the Atlantic Ocean.
Atlas V Stands Tall
This map shows where NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has driven since landing at a site subsequently named "Bradbury Landing," and traveling to an overlook position near beside "Point Lake," in drives ...
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This map shows where NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has driven since landing at a site subsequently named "Bradbury Landing," and traveling to an overlook position near beside "Point Lake," in drives totaling 1,703 feet (519 meters).
Curiosity Rover's Traverse, August through November 2012
NASA’s Perseverance rover deposited the first of several sample tubes onto the Martian surface on Dec. 21, 2022, the 653rd Martian day, or sol, of the mission. This composite image of the tube, fil...
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NASA’s Perseverance rover deposited the first of several sample tubes onto the Martian surface on Dec. 21, 2022, the 653rd Martian day, or sol, of the mission.
WATSON Documents First Sample on the Martian Surface
This image was taken inside a large 'clean room,' where ATLO (Assembly, Testing, and Launch Operations) is taking place for the Mars Science Laboratory mission. In the foreground on the right are e...
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This image was taken inside a large 'clean room,' where ATLO (Assembly, Testing, and Launch Operations) is taking place for the Mars Science Laboratory mission. In the foreground on the right are electronic components and to the left is a man leaning over the components. He is dressed in all white protective clothing, including a face mask and gloves.
Keeping Time to a New Rover Beat
Researchers used NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity to find a water-related mineral on the ground that had been detected from orbit, and found it in the dark veneer of rocks on the rim of En...
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Researchers used NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity to find a water-related mineral on the ground that had been detected from orbit, and found it in the dark veneer of rocks on the rim of Endeavour Crater.
Mineral Detected from Orbit Found in Dark Veneers (Unannotated)

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