Published June 20:2024
As of now, there are several robotic missions actively exploring Mars, including orbiters, landers, and rovers. Here are some of the key active missions:
Rovers and Landers
1. Curiosity Rover Operated by NASA, it has been exploring Gale Crater since August 2012.
2. Perseverance Rover Also operated by NASA, it landed in Jezero Crater in February 2021 and is accompanied by the Ingenuity helicopter.
3. Zhurong Rover: Operated by the China National Space Administration (CNSA), it landed in Utopia Planitia in May 2021.
Orbiters
1. Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) NASA's orbiter, launched in 2005, continues to provide high-resolution imagery and data.
2. Mars Odyssey Orbiter Launched by NASA in 2001, it provides communication support and scientific data.
3. MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) Orbiter: Another NASA mission studying the Martian atmosphere since 2014.
4. Mars Express: An ESA mission providing detailed information about Mars since 2003.
5. Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO): Part of the ExoMars program by ESA and Roscosmos, launched in 2016 to study atmospheric gases.
6. Hope Mars Mission Launched by the UAE, it entered Mars orbit in February 2021 to study the atmosphere and climate.
These missions involve numerous robotic systems working in various capacities, from surface exploration to atmospheric and orbital studies.