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Sojourner rover

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description Sojourner rover Overview

The Sojourner rover was a 11.5-kilogram, six-wheeled robotic vehicle delivered to Mars as part of NASA's Mars Pathfinder mission. Landing on July 4, 1997, it became the first wheeled vehicle to successfully operate and drive on the surface of another planet. The rover was designed to test robotics for future exploration and analyze the chemical composition of Martian rocks and soil. It communicated with Earth via a base station and operated for 83 Martian days, well beyond its planned seven-day mission.

help Sojourner rover FAQ

How did Sojourner reach the surface of Mars?

Sojourner traveled aboard NASA's Mars Pathfinder spacecraft, which landed in Ares Vallis in July 1997. The rover drove down a ramp from the lander after deployment.

How large was the Sojourner rover?

Sojourner was a small six-wheeled vehicle weighing about 10.6 kilograms. Its compact size contrasts sharply with later NASA rovers such as Curiosity and Perseverance.

What did Sojourner study on Mars?

The rover examined rocks and soil near the Pathfinder lander using an alpha proton X-ray spectrometer. Targets received names including Barnacle Bill and Yogi.

How did Sojourner differ from the Soviet Lunokhod rovers?

Lunokhod 1 and Lunokhod 2 drove on the Moon decades earlier, while Sojourner operated on Mars. Its 1997 success made it the first rover to operate successfully on another planet rather than another celestial body generally.

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