Mars Rovers: Pathfinder, MER (Spirit and Opportunity), and MSL

Here are models of three different Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Mars rovers. The small one is Pathfinder, sent to Mars in 1996. The middle is a model of one of two rovers still working on mars, Spirit and Opportunity. And the largest is a model of the Mars Science Laboratory, a future mars rover which is scheduled to launch in the fall of 2011 (originally scheduled for 2009), arriving on Mars in October 2010. JPL is located in Pasadena California, home of the Rose Bowl and Rose Parade.

I'm a Unix Systems Administrator (and Linux fanatic) at JPL and was lucky enough to work on a project that helped map the landing area for the MER mission.

More at http://www.kevitivity.com

Mars Pathfinder: http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/MPF/
Spirit and Opportunity (MER): http://marsrover.nasa.gov/home/
Mars Science Lab website: http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/

Radar Astronomy at JPL (my group): http://gssr.jpl.nasa.gov/

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• NASA
• Mars
• JPL
• Pasadena
• rovers
• science
• jet
• propulsion
• laboratory
• size
• Mars Science Laboratory
• pathfinder
• holst
• kevitivity

[CaptainScarlet2006]

are those rovers made by NASA ?

[Kevitivity]

JPL is part of NASA, so yes.

[ichirootaniguchi]

Wall-E!

[r90sfan]

"Let's see if we can make them bigger." - General Motors

[kdum8]

Great to see them lined up, and good choice of music. NASA really does robotic missions better than anyone else. Here's to MSL success in 2012!

[becausestair]

holst!



[Rg2732]

@DavidChipman Yep. Most interesting choice

[onefugowie]

the new one there sending in November is that much larger than the ones there now..??i had no idea the size diference

[oomblikkies]

The champion will remain the one in the middle - or should I rather say, the twin brothers of the one in the middle - Oppy and Spirit (in that order). They are the real pathfinders who discovered Mars' watery past. Big Brother will probably tell the same story, discover some microbes, but essentially follow in the steps (albeit in a different position) of his older twins.

[MrKillJoy200]

Dang,thoose things are huge :O

[PreciseArrow1]

Imagine going to school in the big one

[2012Video]

lol @ bigone

[paulnorrigan]

Excellent Music!!!

[Clarknipolo]

lol american, W esa space european U.r.s.s.