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Mars Exploration


Four Science Goals for Mars Exploration


Goal 1: Determine if Life ever arose on Mars.

Goal 2: Characterize the Climate of Mars.

Goal 3: Characterize the Geology of Mars.

Goal 4: Prepare for Human Exploration of Mars.


Our Exploration Strategy: Follow the Water!

To discover the possibilities for life on Mars--past, present or our own in the future--the Mars Program has developed an exploration strategy known as "Follow the Water."

Following the water begins with an understanding of the current environment on Mars. We want to explore observed features like dry riverbeds, ice in the polar caps and rock types that only form when water is present. We want to look for hot springs, hydrothermal vents or subsurface water reserves. We want to understand if ancient Mars once held a vast ocean in the northern hemisphere as some scientists believe and how Mars may have transitioned from a more watery environment to the dry and dusty climate it has today. Searching for these answers means delving into the planet's geologic and climate history to find out how, when and why Mars underwent dramatic changes to become the forbidding, yet promising, planet we observe today.

Future Missions

To pursue these goals, all of our future missions will be driven by rigorous scientific questions that will continuously evolve as we make new discoveries.


*Sort missions by clicking the column headers.

DivisionNameLaunch DatePhase
Planets Mariner Missions
19620721 July 21, 1962 4Past
Planets Mars Climate Orbiter
19981211 December 11, 1998 4Past
Planets Mars Exploration Rover - Opportunity
20030707 July 07, 2003 3Operating
Planets Mars Exploration Rover - Spirit
20030610 June 10, 2003 4Past
Planets Mars Express (ASPERA-3)
20030602 June 02, 2003 3Operating
Planets Mars Global Surveyor
19961107 November 07, 1996 4Past
Planets Mars Observer
19920925 September 25, 1992 4Past
Planets Mars Odyssey
20010407 April 07, 2001 3Operating
Planets Mars Polar Lander
19990103 January 03, 1999 4Past
Planets Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
20050812 August 12, 2005 3Operating
Planets Mars Science Laboratory
20111126 November 26, 2011 3Operating
Planets Phoenix
20070804 August 04, 2007 4Past
Planets Viking 1 - 2
19750820 August 20, 1975 4Past