Mars Rover Images

by Fraser Cain on February 25, 2010

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Here are some cool Mars rover images. You can make any of these images into your computer wallpaper. Just click on an image to enlarge it, and then right-click it and choose “Set as Desktop Background”.

2003 Rover

This is an artist’s impression of a Mars Exploration rover on the surface of the Red Planet. They arrived on Mars in 2003, and have been working well ever since. They were able to discover evidence that water once existed on the surface of Mars.

Spirit Returns

Here’s an image taken from the vantage of NASA’s Spirit rover, currently on the surface of Mars. You can see the rover’s robotic arm stretching out in front to help examine a nearby rock. The rover can use its rock abrasion tool to scrape away the top layer of a rock to reveal the minerals beneath.

Spirit's Self-Portrait

This is a self portrait taken by NASA’s Mars Spirit rover. It took several images of itself and the surroundings, and then scientists stitched the images together into this cool mosaic.

Mars Exploration Rover 1

Here’s a real photo of one of the Mars rovers being developed and tested here on Earth. Here’s Spirit being assembled by NASA.

Mars Rover

Here’s an artist’s illustration of the Mars rover navigating across the landscape. Although controllers from Earth give the rovers their destinations, they’re able to maneuver around small rocks that get in their way.

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We’ve written many articles about the Mars rovers for Universe Today. Here’s an article about how the rovers have learned some new tricks, and here’s an article about how to drive the Mars rovers.

If you’d like more info on Mars, check out Hubblesite’s News Releases about Mars, and here’s a link to the NASA Mars Exploration home page.

We’ve also recorded an episode of Astronomy Cast all about Mars. Listen here, Episode 52: Mars.

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