In the aerospace context, a rover is a type of robotic vehicle that is designed to move across the surface of a planet or celestial body.
Rovers are typically used to explore and study the geology, geochemistry, and other aspects of a planet or celestial body. They are equipped with various instruments and cameras to collect data and images, and can be controlled remotely by operators on Earth.
Examples of rovers in the aerospace context include:
- NASA's Mars Exploration Rovers: The twin rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, were launched in 2003 and landed on Mars in 2004. They were designed to study the geology and geochemistry of the Martian surface and to search for signs of past water activity.
- NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL): The rover, named Curiosity, was launched in 2011 and landed on Mars in 2012. It was designed to study the geology and geochemistry of the Martian surface and to search for signs of past habitable conditions on the planet.
- NASA's Perseverance Rover: Launched on July 30th 2020, Perseverance Rover landed on Mars on 18th of February 2021, it is designed to study the geology and geochemistry of the Martian surface and to search for signs of past habitable conditions on the planet, and to collect samples to be returned