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Six missions have operated on the Martian surface since 1997 — three simultaneously in 2022.
| Attribute | Perseverance (Mars 2020) Mars 2020 Active · Last updated 2026-06-28Trust: Agency-primaryⓘ Last verified Remove × | Curiosity (MSL) Mars Science Laboratory Active · Last updated 2026-06-12Trust: Agency-primaryⓘ Last verified Remove × | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agency | NASA/JPL | NASA/JPL | NASA/JPL |
| Status | Active | Mission Complete | Active |
| Vehicle type | rover | rover | rover |
| Launch date | 2020-07-30 | 1996-12-04 | 2011-11-26 |
| Landing date | 2021-02-18 | 1997-07-04 | 2012-08-06 |
| Landing site | Octavia E. Butler Landing, Jezero Crater | Ares Vallis, Chryse Planitia | Bradbury Landing, Gale Crater |
| Launch mass | 1,025 kgas of [1] | 10.6 kgas of [1] | 899 kgas of [1] |
| Power system | Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG) | Solar panels + non-rechargeable lithium thionyl chloride batteries | Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG) |
| Instruments | 7 primary science instruments + 19 cameras + 2 microphonesas of [1]Mastcam-Z, SuperCam, PIXL, SHERLOC, RIMFAX, MEDA, MOXIE; MOXIE completed Oct 2023 | 3 science instruments (APXS ×2, ASI/MET) + 3 camerasas of [1]Alpha Proton X-ray Spectrometer (fore/aft), Atmospheric Structure Instrument/Meteorology Package | 10 science instrumentsas of [1]Mastcam, ChemCam, MAHLI, APXS, CheMin, SAM, DAN, REMS, RAD, MARDI |
| Distance traveled | >30 kmas of [3]Passed the 30 km odometry milestone in October 2024; actively driving | 0.1 km (100 metres)as of [1]Traveled ~100 m over 83 sols; contact lost when lander base station batteries depleted | 36.86 kmas of [3]Actively driving; figure grows with each drive ↑ Farthest |
| Mission outcome | First spacecraft to demonstrate oxygen production on Mars (MOXIE). Has collected 33 sample tubes (including the Three Forks depot cache). The NASA-ESA Mars Sample Return campaign lost its funding in January 2026, but retrieval is not off the table: China's Tianwen-3 (2028 launch, ~2031 return) is now the leading active sample-return effort, and the FY26 appropriation redirected ~$110M into a 'Mars Future Missions' technology pool. Documented diverse rock types in Jezero's ancient river delta. Deployed and supported Ingenuity through 72 flights. | First Mars rover in history. Deployed by the Mars Pathfinder lander on July 4, 1997, Sojourner operated 83 sols — nearly 12× its 7-sol design lifetime. Its APXS instrument analyzed 16 rocks and soil patches, including 'Barnacle Bill' and 'Yogi', revealing andesite-like compositions suggesting a more geochemically differentiated volcanic history than expected. The mission proved roving exploration on Mars was feasible. | Confirmed ancient habitable environment at Gale Crater — lake sediments billions of years old with all ingredients for life. Discovered complex organic molecules and seasonal methane fluctuations. Still driving as of June 2026 (~4,921 sols, 36.86 km), ascending the foothills of Mount Sharp. |
All 6 surface vehicles with primary-source citations from NASA JPL, NASA NSSDCA, and CNSA. Pure URL state — bookmark or share the link and the comparison reproduces exactly.