Rover (space exploration) facts for kids

Three different Mars rover designs, including Sojourner

A rover is like a special car or robot that travels on the ground of another planet, moon, or other space object. Some rovers are big enough for people to drive. But most rovers are robots that can drive themselves for short distances. People on Earth still send them directions every day. They tell the rovers where to go and what to do. Rovers are electric vehicles. They get their power from either the Sun or nuclear energy.

Meet the Space Rovers!

The Mars Rover, Sojourner

Many rovers have been sent to explore different places in space.

Rovers on Mars

The only rovers that have successfully landed on Mars were sent by NASA. These rovers have special tools on their arms. They use these tools to test the soil, take pictures, and do other planetary science tasks.

• Sojourner
  • This was the very first Mars rover.
  • It was a test to see if a solar-powered vehicle would work on Mars.
  • Sojourner landed on July 4, 1997.
  • It worked for almost three months.

• Spirit
  • Spirit and Opportunity were launched together.
  • Spirit landed on January 4, 2004.
  • It explored Mars for a little over six years.

• Opportunity
  • Opportunity landed on January 25, 2004.
  • It worked for many years, much longer than expected!

• Curiosity
  • This rover uses nuclear power.
  • Curiosity landed in August 2012.
  • It is still exploring Mars today.

Rovers on the Moon

• Lunokhod
  • The Soviet Union sent these rovers.
  • Lunokhod 1 was the first remote-controlled vehicle sent off Earth.

• Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle
  • This rover was also called a moon buggy.
  • NASA sent it during the Apollo missions.
  • Astronauts drove these rovers on the Moon.

Images for kids

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  Curiosity's wheels on Mars, 2017

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  Comparison of distances driven by various wheeled vehicles on the surface of the Moon and Mars

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  Mars rover Sojourner in cruise configuration

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  Landing sites of sample return and rover missions

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  The Lunokhod 1 Lunar Rover

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  Apollo 15 Lunar Roving Vehicle

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  The Lunokhod 2 lunar rover

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  Sojourner on Mars in 1997

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  Mars Exploration Rover

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  Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover

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  Mars 2020 Perseverance rover design infographic detailing cameras

See also

In Spanish: Rover para niños