Mars Exploration Rover

NASA's Mars Exploration Rover (MER) Mission (since 2003) is an unmanned Mars exploration mission that includes sending two Rovers (robots) to explore the Martian surface and geology. The mission was led by Project Manager Peter Theisinger of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Principal Investigator Steven Squyres, professor of astronomy at Cornell University.

Related Topics:
NASA - 2003 - Unmanned - Mars - Robot - Geology - Peter Theisinger - Jet Propulsion Laboratory - Steven Squyres - Astronomy - Cornell University

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Primary among the mission's scientific goals is to search for and characterize a wide range of rocks and soils that hold clues to past water activity on Mars. The Mars Exploration Rover mission is part of NASA's Mars Exploration Program which includes three previous successful landers: the two Viking landers in 1976 and Pathfinder in 1997.

Related Topics:
Rocks - Soil - Viking - 1976 - Pathfinder - 1997

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The total cost of building, launching, landing and operating the rovers on the surface for the initial 90 day primary mission was about US $820 million (approx. $2.75 per U.S. capita). With the rovers still functioning well more than year after landing, mission funding has been extended to at least September 2006.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In recognition of the vast amount of scientific information amassed by both rovers, two asteroids have been named in their honor: 37452 Spirit and 39382 Opportunity.

Related Topics:
Asteroid - 37452 Spirit - 39382 Opportunity

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~