Mars rovers are robotic vehicles designed to explore the surface of the Red Planet.
Since 1997, space agencies have sent a series of increasingly advanced rovers to Mars to search for signs of ancient water, study the planet's geology and climate, and investigate whether Mars could once have supported life.
Mars rovers at a glance
Rover | Country | Landed on Mars | Status | Key discoveries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
U.S. | 1997 | Mission complete | First successful Mars rover | |
U.S. | 2004 | Mission complete | Evidence of historical water activity | |
U.S. | 2004 | Mission complete | Signs Mars once had long-lasting water | |
U.S. | 2012 | Active | organic molecules and ancient habitable environments | |
U.S. | 2021 | Active | Collecting samples for future return to Earth | |
Zhurong | China | 2021 | Inactive/Inoperable | Studied possible ancient shoreline regions |
Active Mars rovers today
As of 2026, two NASA rovers are still operating on the Red Planet:
- Curiosity — exploring Gale Crater since 2012
- Perseverance — exploring Jazero Crater since 2021
China's Zhurong entered hibernation in 2022 and has not resumed operations.
Perseverance
NASA's latest Mars rover, Perseverance, landed inside Jazero Crater on Feb. 18,. 2021. The rover is searching for signs of ancient microbial life and collecting rock samples that could one day be returned to Earth for analysis.
Perseverance also delivered the tiny robotic helicopter Ingenuity, which became the first aircraft to achieve powered flight on another planet.
Curiosity
Curiosity landed on Mars on Aug. 5, 2012, and is currently exploring the Gale Crater. The rover has discovered organic molecules in ancient rocks and found evidence that Mars once hosted lakes and long-lasting water systems, according to NASA.
Spirit
NASA's Spirit rover landed on Mars in January 2004 as part of the Mars Exploration Rover mission.
Originally designed to last just 90 Martian days, Spirit operated for more than six years!
Opportunity
Opportunity landed on Mars in 2004 and became one of NASA's most successful planetary missions.
The rover found extensive evidence of past water activity and traveled more than 28 miles (45 kilometers) across Mars before a massive dust storm ended the mission in 2018.
Sojourner
Sojourner became the first successful Mars rover when it landed in 1997 as part of NASA's Pathfinder mission.
Though small and designed to last only a week, Sojourner operated for nearly three months and proved that robotic rovers could successfully explore the Martian surface.
Zhurong
China's Zhurong landed on Mars in 2021 as part of the Tianwen-1 mission, making China the second nation to successfully operate a rover on the Red Planet.
The rover studied rocks, climate and possible ancient shoreline regions before entering hibernation in 2022. It never woke up.
Future Mars rovers
The European Space Agency's Rosalind Franklin rover is expected to launch in 2028. The rover will drill up to 6.5 feet (2 meters) beneath the Martian surface in search of possible signs of ancient life.
Mars rover FAQs
How many rovers have gone to Mars?
Six successful rovers have operated on Mars: Sojourner, Spirit, Opportunity, Curiosity, Perseverance and Zhurong.
Which Mars rovers are still active?
Curiosity and Perseverance are still active as of 2026
What was the first rover on Mars?
Sojourner became the first successful Mars rover in 1997.
What happened to Opportunity?
Opportunity stopped communicating during a massive Martian dust storm in 2018 after operating on Mars for more than 14 years.
Daisy Dobrijevic joined Space.com in February 2022, having previously worked as a staff writer for All About Space magazine. She completed an editorial internship with BBC Sky at Night Magazine and worked at the National Space Centre, communicating space science to the public.
Latest about Mars Rovers
A 29-pound Mars rock held NASA's Curiosity rover hostage for 6 days (video)
The rock is nicknamed "Atacama."
Why does NASA's Curiosity rover have a 'lucky penny' on Mars? | Space photo of the day for May 6, 2026
Providing good luck to the first Martian to find it.
Timboy Chaco in the Mars borderlands | Space photo of the day for March 16, 2026
Scientists are searching for evidence of microbial life left behind in these mineral deposits.
Curiosity rover finds clues to Mars' watery past in rocky 'spiderwebs'
The web-like features are believed to be sculpted by ancient groundwater, offering new clues about the Red Planet's watery past.
NASA's Perseverance rover now has its own 'GPS' on Mars: 'We've given the rover a new ability'
NASA's Perseverance rover can now pinpoint its exact location on Mars without help from Earth, paving the way for longer, more autonomous exploration.
NASA's Perseverance Mars rover completes its 1st drive planned by AI
"The fundamental elements of generative AI are showing a lot of promise in streamlining the pillars of autonomous navigation for off-planet driving."
NASA Perseverance rover sees megaripples on Mars | Space photo of the day for Jan. 7, 2026.
Another view from Perseverance shows how windswept Mars' landscape truly is.
NASA's Curiosity rover sends stunning new panorama from high on Mars' Mount Sharp
The image was captured in November 2025, showing how lighting changes throughout the day on Mars.
