Three spacecraft are well on their way to Mars. Closest to Earth is Nozomi, a troubled Japanese orbiter (its label may blot out our planet for some time). Spirit is the first of two NASA rovers. Express is a European orbiter/lander combo. [Mission News]

This NASA simulation shows their current locations. Blue lines are the spacecrafts' paths. The brown line shows the path of Earth, which is moving in the same general direction -- counterclockwise around the Sun when viewed from above -- while the spacecraft veer outward toward Mars. [Below: Detailed look at Spirit's location]

All three spacecraft / Updated every 10 minutes

Image courtesy NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory

News of the Missions

A detailed simulation for NASA's Opportunity craft (MER-B) will be added about two weeks after its launch, if all goes well.

Below is the course and current location of NASA's Spirit (MER-A) craft. Mars is moving counterclockwise in this view and will be at the end of the blue line when Spirit gets there. Note that Spirit's label may blot out Earth, as the two remain close -- Earth is moving in the same general direction as the craft, counterclockwise around the Sun as viewed from above.

Spirit's location / Updated every 10 minutes

Image courtesy NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory

News of the Missions