The Curiosity rover and the Perseverance rover are currently active and operational on the surface of Mars.
These two sophisticated robotic explorers continue to conduct groundbreaking scientific research, providing invaluable data and insights into the Red Planet's geology, climate, and potential for past or present life.
The Currently Active Mars Rovers
As of now, the United States' National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) operates two highly capable rovers on Mars: Curiosity and Perseverance. They are part of a lineage of robotic landers that have been exploring Mars for decades, but these are the only two currently in operation.
Here’s a snapshot of the active rovers:
| Rover | Status | Landing Date | Primary Mission Objectives |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curiosity | Active | Aug 6, 2012 | Investigate Mars' habitability, study its geology and climate, assess conditions for microbial life. |
| Perseverance | Active | Feb 18, 2021 | Astrobiology, seek signs of ancient microbial life, collect samples for future return to Earth, test technologies for human exploration. |
Curiosity Rover
Launched as part of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission, the Curiosity rover landed in Gale Crater on August 6, 2012. Its primary objective has been to determine if Mars ever had the environmental conditions to support microbial life. Over a decade later, Curiosity has successfully confirmed that ancient Mars had the chemical ingredients and energy sources necessary to support life, and it continues to explore new terrains and uncover secrets of the planet's past.
- Key Discoveries:
- Evidence of ancient lakebeds and river systems.
- Discovery of organic molecules in Martian rocks.
- Measurement of background radiation levels.
- Understanding of atmospheric methane fluctuations.
For more information, visit the Curiosity Rover mission page.
Perseverance Rover
The Perseverance rover, the centerpiece of NASA's Mars 2020 mission, touched down in Jezero Crater on February 18, 2021. Its ambitious mission includes searching for signs of ancient microbial life, collecting and caching Martian rock and regolith (broken rock and dust) samples for potential return to Earth by future missions, and testing technologies to prepare for human exploration. Perseverance also deployed the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, the first aircraft to achieve powered, controlled flight on another planet.
- Key Activities and Objectives:
- Collecting strategically selected rock and soil samples.
- Exploring the ancient river delta in Jezero Crater for biosignatures.
- Testing the Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment (MOXIE) to produce oxygen from the Martian atmosphere.
- Documenting atmospheric and dust conditions.
- Serving as a base station for the Ingenuity helicopter (which completed its mission in January 2024).
For more details, explore the Perseverance Rover mission page.
