Soujourner rover

The Sojourner rover was a small robotic vehicle sent to explore Mars in 1997 as part of NASA’s Pathfinder mission. It was about the size of a microwave oven and could move across the Martian surface, analyze soil and rocks, and send data back to Earth. Equipped with cameras and scientific instruments, Sojourner helped scientists learn about the planet’s surface, climate, and history. Its successful deployment demonstrated the feasibility of using robotic rovers for planetary exploration, paving the way for future missions like the Mars rovers Spirit, Opportunity, and Curiosity.