Space and Astronomy Atlas

How The Universe Works
Missions and Programs

Mars Exploration Rover

Mars Rover Mission

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The Mars Exploration Rover mission was a NASA robotic space mission involving two Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Spirit launched June 10, 2003 and Opportunity launched July 7, 2003, both landing on Mars at separate locations in January 2004 to explore the planet's surface and geology.

Facts
Launch Date
2003-06-10 1
Spirit (MER-A) launched June 10, 2003; Opportunity (MER-B) launched July 7, 2003. The earlier of the two launch dates is recorded here.
Outcome
Both rovers far outlived their planned 90 day missions: Spirit was active until March 22, 2010 and Opportunity until June 10, 2018, with NASA declaring the mission over in February 2019 after a dust storm ended contact with Opportunity. 1
Sources
1. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationMars Exploration Rover article, lead section
Quote, Mars Exploration Rover article, lead section
a robotic space mission involving two Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, exploring the planet Mars
1. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationMars Exploration Rover article, infobox
1. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationMars Exploration Rover article, outcome section
Quote, Mars Exploration Rover article, outcome section
NASA declared the Opportunity mission over...which also drew the 16-year long Mars Exploration Rover mission to a close
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