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On March 20, 2004, NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity used a wheel to dig a trench revealing subsurface material beside the lander hardware that carried the rover to the surface of Mars 55 Martian days, or sols, earlier.The small spherules on the Martian surface in this close-up image are near Fram Crater, visited by NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity during April 2004. These are examples of the mineral concretions nicknamed "blueberries."This scene from the panoramic camera (Pancam) on NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity looks back toward part of the west rim of Endeavour Crater that the rover drove along, heading southward, during the summer of 2014.Spirit Mars Rover in 'McMurdo' Panorama (False Color). Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell Univ./Arizona State Univ. Opportunity on 'Burns Cliff' (Simulated). Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell.Artist depiction of MER entry, descent and landing. Credit: NASA/JPLSpirit Mars Rover in 'McMurdo' Panorama, Polar Projection. Credit: Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell Univ./Arizona State Univ.This image mosaic shows a panoramic view of the crater where Opportunity made its its dramatic arrival in late January 2004.
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On March 20, 2004, NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity used a wheel to dig a trench revealing subsurface material beside the lander hardware that carried the rover to the surface of Mars 55 Martian days, or sols, earlier.NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell/ASU
The small spherules on the Martian surface in this close-up image are near Fram Crater, visited by NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity during April 2004. These are examples of the mineral concretions nicknamed "blueberries."NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell/USGS/Cathy Weitz
This scene from the panoramic camera (Pancam) on NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity looks back toward part of the west rim of Endeavour Crater that the rover drove along, heading southward, during the summer of 2014.NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell Univ./Arizona State Univ.
Spirit Mars Rover in 'McMurdo' Panorama (False Color). Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell Univ./Arizona State Univ. NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell Univ./Arizona State Univ.
Opportunity on 'Burns Cliff' (Simulated). Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell.Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell.
Artist depiction of MER entry, descent and landing. Credit: NASA/JPLNASA/JPL-Caltech
Spirit Mars Rover in 'McMurdo' Panorama, Polar Projection. Credit: Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell Univ./Arizona State Univ.NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell Univ./Arizona State Univ.
This image mosaic, compiled from navigation and panoramic camera images during the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity's 33rd, 35th, and 36th sols on Mars, shows a panoramic view of the crater where the rover had been exploring since its dramatic arrival in late January 2004.NASA/JPL/Cornell
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Mission name: MERs

Mars Exploration Rovers

The MER rovers have shaped our understanding of Mars’ geology and past environments at the surface that may have been suitable for life.

Mission news and discoveries
Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Credit: NASA/JPL
Celebrating NASA’s Spirit and Opportunity Rovers’ Mars Landings (NASA)January 24, 2024
Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Credit: NASA/JPL
20 Years After Landing: How NASA’s Twin Rovers Changed Mars Science (NASA)January 17, 2024
Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Credit: NASA/JPL
In Memoriam: Jack Dwayne FarmerMay 06, 2023
Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Credit: NASA/JPL
Science Communication Aboard the JOIDES ResolutionApril 03, 2023
Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Credit: NASA/JPL
25 Years of Continuous Robotic Mars Exploration – From Pathfinder to Perseverance (NASA)September 13, 2022
Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Credit: NASA/JPL
The Search For Life: Are We Alone?June 21, 2022
Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Credit: NASA/JPL
The Library of Congress presents Space on the Page!March 16, 2022
Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Credit: NASA/JPL
New Video: Astrobiology in the Field: GreenlandNovember 18, 2021
Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Credit: NASA/JPL
New Report on Bioburden Requirements for MarsOctober 07, 2021
Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Credit: NASA/JPL
NASA’s Search for Life: Astrobiology in the Solar System and BeyondJune 25, 2021
Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Credit: NASA/JPL
Planetary Protection and the Moons of MarsMarch 06, 2020
Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Credit: NASA/JPL
2020 MEPAG Goals Document Draft is now Available for Community CommentsJanuary 23, 2020
Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Credit: NASA/JPL
Apply for "The PI Launchpad: From Science Idea to NASA Mission"September 25, 2019
Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Credit: NASA/JPL
On the Ground in GreenlandSeptember 10, 2019
Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Credit: NASA/JPL
ExoClimes V Presentations Now Available On-Demand!September 09, 2019
Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Credit: NASA/JPL
New NASA Documentary Series: Astrobiology in the Field!April 01, 2019
Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Credit: NASA/JPL
Opportunity Rover Mission Comes to an EndFebruary 14, 2019
Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Credit: NASA/JPL
Putting the Ethics into Planetary ProtectionAugust 13, 2018
Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Credit: NASA/JPL
Forecasting Martian Dust StormsJuly 27, 2018
Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Credit: NASA/JPL
NASA-ESA Statement of Intent for Mars Sample ReturnMay 07, 2018
Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Credit: NASA/JPL
Search for Life on Mars Could Get Water-Enhanced BoostMay 07, 2018
Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Credit: NASA/JPL
Astrobiologist Nathalie Cabrol Features in the New York TimesMarch 23, 2018
Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Credit: NASA/JPL
Rare Metals On Mars And Earth Implicate Colossal ImpactsMarch 23, 2018
Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Credit: NASA/JPL
MEPAG Meeting 36 AbstractsMarch 20, 2018
Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Credit: NASA/JPL
Sample Collection is HardFebruary 27, 2018
Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Credit: NASA/JPL
Gravity Assist: Mars, with Bruce Jakosky and Michael MeyerJanuary 16, 2018
Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Credit: NASA/JPL
Exploring the Stars Through Video and Board GamesNovember 13, 2017
Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Credit: NASA/JPL
Microbes Could Survive Thin Air of MarsJanuary 18, 2017
Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Credit: NASA/JPL
Looking for Life on Mars — in ChileNovember 24, 2016
Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Credit: NASA/JPL
Iron-Loving Bacteria a Model for Mars LifeNovember 15, 2016
Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Credit: NASA/JPL
Microscope Could Seek Biological Samples on Red PlanetNovember 01, 2016
Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Credit: NASA/JPL
Water on Mars: The Story So FarOctober 14, 2016
Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Credit: NASA/JPL
Cycles of Glaciation on Ancient MarsOctober 06, 2016
Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Credit: NASA/JPL
Planetary Protection for the Journey to MarsSeptember 07, 2016
Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Credit: NASA/JPL
The Confounding, Crucial World of Remote BiosignaturesJuly 01, 2016
Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Credit: NASA/JPL
Water Activity in Salty LiquidMay 05, 2016
Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Credit: NASA/JPL
Protecting Special Regions on MarsMay 02, 2016