SunFounder GalaxyRVR Kit for Arduino, Release 1.0
We’ll delve deeper into actual Mars rover designs and their functions in the following steps, so keep your creative ideas
in mind as we progress.
Step 2: Exploring the History of Mars Rovers
Next, we’ll embark on a journey through time by watching a documentary that details the history of Mars rovers. The
documentary takes us from the first attempt at deploying a rover on Mars, the Soviet Mars 3 rover which unfortunately
didn’t succeed upon landing in 1971, to NASA’s first successful Mars rover, Sojourner, in 1997.
Our journey doesn’t stop there, as we venture further to understand the adventures of the most advanced rovers yet:
Spirit, Opportunity, Curiosity, and Perseverance.
This documentary not only presents a historical context but also provides a comprehensive understanding of the pro-
gressive scientific and engineering milestones that have led to the current Mars exploration era.
Step 3: Summarize the Mars Rovers
After watching the documentary, let’s summarize the different Mars rovers that have been sent on the red planet.
• Sojourner (1997)
Sojourner, the pioneer of Mars rovers, embarked on its journey as a part of the Mars Pathfinder mis-
sion. It made a successful landing in the Ares Vallis region on July 4, 1997. As the first wheeled
vehicle to roam on a planet other than Earth, Sojourner marked a significant milestone in Martian ex-
ploration. Although it was operational on Mars for only 92 Martian days, or sols, it set the groundwork
for future exploratory rovers.
3.1. Lesson 1 Unveiling the Mars Rover 15
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