Synonyms
Definition
Mars Exploration Rover (MER) is a NASA mission composed of two identical robot geologists, SPIRIT and OPPORTUNITY, which were launched separately in June and July 2003, respectively. After their successful landing on the surface of Mars in January 2004, in areas near the equator, they started exploring their landing sites, searching for clues of past water activity on Mars. Both Mars Exploration Rovers were designed to last 90 sol (a Martian day = 1.027491 Earth days). SPIRIT has been operating for 6 years 2 months and 25 days; it drove 7.73 km. OPPORTUNITY is still functioning more than 11 years after landing and with an odometry of more 42 km.
Overview
The MER mission is part of the Mars exploration program that NASA has conducted regularly to decipher the history of this planet, to find whether life ever existed there, and to prepare a future human visit.
After the previous missions, both in orbit (Mars Global Surveyor [MGS], Mars Odyssey)...
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Further Reading
Arvidson RE et al (2006) Overview of the spirit Mars exploration rover mission to Gusev crater: landing site to backstay rock in the Columbia Hills. J Geophys Res:111:E02S01. https://doi.org/10.1029/2005JE002499
Arvidson RE et al (2008) Spirit Mars rover mission to Columbia Hills, Gusev crater: mission overview and selected results from the Cumberland ridge to home plate. J Geophys Res 113:E12S33. https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JE003183
Arvidson RE et al (2011) Opportunity Mars rover mission: overview and selected results from purgatory ripple to traverses to Endeavour crater. J Geophys Res 116:E00F15. https://doi.org/10.1029/2010JE003746
Bell JF III (ed) (2008) The Martian surface – composition, mineralogy, and physical properties. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Bell JF III et al (2003) Mars exploration rover Athena panoramic camera (Pancam) investigation. J Geophys Res 108(E12):8063. https://doi.org/10.1029/2003JE002070
Crisp JA et al (2003) Mars exploration rover mission. J Geophys Res 108(E12):8061. https://doi.org/10.1029/2002JE002038
Cristensen PR et al (2003) Miniature thermal emission spectrometer for the Mars exploration rovers. J Geophys Res 108(E12):8064. https://doi.org/10.1029/2003JE002117
Golombek MP et al (2003) Selection of the Mars exploration rover landing sites. J Geophys Res 108(E12):ROV 13–1. https://doi.org/10.1029/2003JE002074 CiteID 8072
Gorevan SP et al (2003) Rock abrasion tool: Mars exploration rover mission. J Geophys Res 108(E12):8068. https://doi.org/10.1029/2003JE002061
Herkenhoff KE et al (2003) Athena microscopic imager investigation. J Geophys Res 108(E12):8065. https://doi.org/10.1029/2003JE002076
Klingelhöfer G et al (2003) Athena MIMOS II Mo¨ssbauer spectrometer investigation. J Geophys Res 108(E12):8067. https://doi.org/10.1029/2003JE002138
Knoll AH et al (2008) Veneers, rinds, and fracture fills: relatively late alteration of sedimentary rocks at Meridiani Planum, Mars. J Geophys Res 113:E06S16. https://doi.org/10.1029/2007JE002949
Ming DW et al (2008a) Geochemical properties of rocks and soils in Gusev crater, Mars: results of the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer from Cumberland ridge to home plate. J Geophys Res 113:E12S39. https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JE003195
Ming DW et al (2008b) Chapter 23: aqueous alteration on Mars. In: Bell JF III (ed) The Martian surface: composition, mineralogy, and physical properties. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 519–540
Rieder R et al (2003) The new Athena alpha particle X-ray spectrometer for the Mars exploration rovers. J Geophys Res 108(E12):8066. https://doi.org/10.1029/2003JE002150
Squyres SW et al (2003) Athena Mars rover science investigation. J Geophys Res 108(E12):8062. https://doi.org/10.1029/2003JE002121
Squyres SW et al (2006) Two years at Meridiani Planum: results from the Opportunity rover. Science 313(5792):1403–1407. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1130890
Squyres SW et al (2009) Exploration of Victoria crater by the Mars rover Opportunity. Science 324:1058–1061
Squyres SW et al (2012) Ancient impact and aqueous processes at Endeavour crater, Mars. Science 336:570–576
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D’Uston, C. (2022). MER, Spirit, and Opportunity (Mars). In: Gargaud, M., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1879-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1879-4
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MER, Spirit, and Opportunity (Mars)- Published:
- 31 March 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1879-4
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MER, Spirit and Opportunity (Mars)- Published:
- 07 May 2015
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1879-3