PIA11431: Size Comparison: Three Generations of Mars Rovers


Size Comparison: Three Generations of Mars Rovers

Caption:

Full-scale models of three generations of NASA Mars rovers show the increase in size from the Sojourner rover of the Mars Pathfinder project that landed on Mars in 1997 (center), to the twin Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity that landed in 2004 (left), to the Mars Science Laboratory rover for a mission to land in 2010 (right).

The Mars Science Laboratory rover is about 9 feet wide, 10 feet long (not counting its robotic arm) and 7 feet tall.

Background Info:

This image was taken in May 2008 at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., which has built the real Mars rovers and managed the rover missions for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. JPL is a division of the California Institute of Technology.

Cataloging Keywords:

Name Value Additional Values
Target Mars
System
Target Type Planet
Mission Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Mars Exploration Rover (MER), Mars Pathfinder (MPF)
Instrument Host Curiosity Rover Opportunity (MER-B), Spirit (MER-A)
Host Type Rover
Instrument
Detector
Extra Keywords Color
Acquisition Date
Release Date 2008-11-19
Date in Caption
Image Credit NASA/JPL-Caltech
Source photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA11431
Identifier PIA11431