Rover Basics

Each robotic explorer sent to the Red Planet has its own unique capabilities driven by science. Many attributes of a rover take on human-like features, such as “heads,” “bodies,” and “arms and legs.”

Anatomy of a Rover
Hidden Messages
NASA's Mars Perseverance rover acquired this image using its SHERLOC WATSON camera, located on the turret at the end of the rover's robotic arm.
NASA's Mars Perseverance rover acquired this image using its SHERLOC WATSON camera, located on the turret at the end of the rover's robotic arm.
NASA/JPL-Caltech

Anatomy of a Rover

Body
A strong structure that protects the rovers' "vital organs" like computers, electronics and electronics, some of which keep the vital organs protected and temperature-controlled.
Brains
Computers to process information.
Temperature controls
Internal heaters, a layer of insulation, and more to protect the rover from extreme temperatures.
"Neck and Head"
A mast for the cameras to give the rovers a human-scale view.
Eyes and other "senses"
Cameras and instruments that give the rovers information about their environment to aid in navigation and science investigations.
Arm
Much like a human arm, the robotic arm has flexibility through three joints: the rover's shoulder, elbow, and wrist to maneuver the instruments that help scientists get up-close and personal with Martian rocks and soil.
Wheels and "Legs"
Parts for mobility.
Energy
Batteries and solar panels.
Communications
Antennas for "speaking" and "listening."

Hidden Messages

From bracelets to body art, humans have adorned themselves for thousands of years. The spacecraft that we send to Mars are no different! Many NASA orbiters, landers, and rovers fly with artwork, signs, and symbols on board that reflect the time and place they were made.

Parachute Puzzle

The Mars Perseverance rover parachute had a playful puzzle!

Engineers integrated a unique pattern in the white and orange sections of Perseverance's 70-foot-diameter supersonic parachute. Within each circular row of the parachute, they added the words “Dare Mighty Things” in binary code. The phrase is from a speech by President Theodore Roosevelt. It is also the motto for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Along the outer edge of the parachute are the Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates for JPL in Southern California, where the team built the Perseverance rover.

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As the Perseverance rover was landing, cameras took pictures of the parachute during its descent through the Martian atmosphere. The images helped engineers know the precise orientation of the parachute as it is inflated.
As the Perseverance rover was landing, cameras took pictures of the parachute during its descent through the Martian atmosphere. The images helped engineers know the precise orientation of the parachute as it was inflated.
NASA/JPL-Caltech

Reading Rover Tracks

NASA’s Curiosity rover has morse code imprinted on all six of its  wheels:
.--- (J), .--. (P), and .-.. (L).

The wheel's secret message is Morse code for JPL, short for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, where the rover was built and the mission is managed. Its "footprint" left on the Martian surface is an homage to the rover's builders and an important reference mark that the rover can use to drive more precisely via a visual odometry system.

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Pictures are two out of six wheels on NASA’s Curiosity rover with its JPL morse code in view.
Pictures are two out of six wheels on NASA’s Curiosity rover with its JPL Morse code in view.
NASA/JPL-Caltech

Tribute to Healthcare Workers Plate

A token of appreciation for front-line healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Perseverance rover was prepared for launch at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California and Kennedy Space Center in Florida during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Engineers and technicians worked under difficult conditions to ready the rover and spacecraft for a seven-month trip to Mars.

The Perseverance team designed the Unity plate as a tribute to the resolution and perseverance of front-line healthcare workers, who risk their lives to treat those in need. These courageous individuals inspire all of us to face the greatest challenges, and we hope this mission provides inspiration in return. This plate was installed on the left side of the rover chassis.

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Image of the commemorative plate designed to play tribute to the perseverance of COVID-19 healthcare workers around the world.
Image of the commemorative plate designed to play tribute to the perseverance of COVID-19 healthcare workers around the world.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
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