Space Topics: Mars Exploration Rovers
Mission Facts
Spacecraft
Spacecraft mass:
Total: 1,062 kilograms (2,341 pounds) at launch
Rover: 174 kilograms (384 pounds)
Lander: 365 kilograms (805 pounds)
Backshell and parachute: 198 kilograms (436 pounds)
Heatshield: 90 kilograms (198 pounds)
Cruise stage: 183 kilograms (403 pounds)
Fuel: 52 kilograms (115 pounds)
Spacecraft description:
Cruise vehicle dimensions: 2.65 meters diameter by 1.6 meters tall (8.7 feet diameter by 5.2 feet tall)
Rover dimensions: 1.5 meters tall by 2.3 meters wide by 1.6 meters long (4.9 feet tall by 7.5 feet wide by 5.2 feet long)
Power: Solar panel and lithium-ion battery system providing 140 watts on Mars surface
Mission Timeline
Launch: Spirit – June 10, 2003; Opportunity – July 7, 2003, both from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
Landing: Spirit – signal received on Earth from Gusev Crater at 8:35 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST) January 3, 2004; Opportunity – signal received from Meridiani Planum 9:05 p.m. PST January 24, 2004
Total distance traveled Earth to Mars: Spirit – about 497 million kilometers (303 million miles); Opportunity – about 456 million kilometers (283 million miles)
Rover egress onto Martian soil: Spirit -- January 15, 2004; Opportunity -- January 31, 2004
End of primary mission: 90 Mars days or sols (equivalent to 92 Earth days) successfully completed by Spirit on April 4, 2004; by Opportunity on April 24, 2004
First extended mission: April 2004 to mid-September 2004
Second extended mission: Granted in September 2004 and ongoing, with funding promised through September 2006
Mission cost
Total: About $850 million
Spacecraft and instrument development: $645 million
Launch: $100 million
Mission operations and science processing: $75 million
Extended mission operations: TK per year.
Launch: Spirit - June 10, 2003; Opportunity - July 7, 2003, both from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
Launch Vehicle: Spirit - Delta II 7925; Opportunity - Delta II 7925H
Mars arrival: Spirit - January 3, 2004 Pacific Standard Time; Opportunity - January 24, 2004 (PST)
Landing Site: Spirit - Gusev Crater at 15 °S, 176°E; Opportunity -Terra Meridiani at 2°S, 355°E
End of primary mission: Spirit - April 6, 2004; Opportunity - April 27, 2004
First extended mission: April 2004 to mid-September 2004
Second extended mission: Granted in September 2004 and ongoing, with funding promised through September 2006
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