ROVERS

Rovers on Mars operate by sending images, instrument data, and status updates to Earth during a three-hour communication window with the high-gain antenna. Scientists then send commands for the rover to perform tasks such as moving, analyzing rocks, or taking photos, which the rover executes autonomously over the following 20 hours. This cycle continues for about 90 days, after which the rover's power begins to wane and communication becomes increasingly difficult due to the growing distance between Mars and Earth. Eventually, the rover will either lose power, face communication issues, or encounter mechanical failures, leading to the end of the mission.

The reliability of rovers is crucial to the success of planetary exploration missions, as they operate in harsh and unpredictable environments on Mars. Designed to withstand extreme temperatures, dust storms, and radiation, these rovers are equipped with robust systems and redundant components to ensure continued functionality even in the face of potential failures. Rigorous testing and simulations are conducted on Earth to anticipate and address possible issues, while onboard diagnostics help monitor and manage the rover's health.

1. Determine the distribution and composition of minerals, rocks, and soils surrounding the landing sites.

2. Determine what geologic processes have shaped the local terrain and influenced the chemistry. Such processes could include water or wind erosion, sedimentation, hydrothermal mechanisms, volcanism, and cratering.

3. Perform "ground truth" – calibration and validation – of surface observations made by Mars orbiter instruments. This helped determine the accuracy and effectiveness of various instruments that survey Martian geology from orbit.

4. Search for iron-containing minerals, identify and quantify relative amounts of specific mineral types that contain water or were formed in water, such as iron-bearing carbonates.

5. Characterize the mineralogy and textures of rocks and soils and determine the processes that created them.

6. Search for geological clues to the environmental conditions that existed when liquid water was present. Assess whether those environments were conducive to life.

7. Search for and characterize a variety of rocks and soils that hold clues to past water activity. In particular, samples sought included those that have minerals deposited by water-related processes such as precipitation, evaporation, sedimentary cementation, or hydrothermal activity.