Timeline of Mars Exploration

Nasa's Journey to Mars

Period: 1965 to 2021

Mariner 4

Jul 15, 1965

The Mariner 4 spacecraft made its closest approach to Mars on July 15, 1965, and took the first photos of another planet from space.

Mariner 6 & 7

Jul 31, 1969

Mariner 6 & 7 completed the first dual mission to Mars. Mariners 6 & 7 analyzed Mars's surface and atmosphere using remote sensors.

Mariner 9

Nov 14, 1971

Mariner 9 mapped 85 percent of the surface of Mars and sent back over 7,000 photos.

Vikings 1 & 2

Jun 19, 1976

Viking 2 was an orbiter made to take photographs of mars. Viking 1 was made to land on Mars and study its surface.

Mars Global Surveyor

Nov 7, 1996

The Mars Global surveyor was designed to examine the composition of Mars, map its topography, and monitor weather patterns. The orbiter also found evidence of liquid water on the surface of Mars.

Mars Pathfinder

Dec 3, 1996

Mars Pathfinder was the first wheeled vehicle to be used on any other planet in the solar system. Mars Pathfinder was designed to demonstrate a low-budget delivery of science instruments to mars.

Mars Odyssey

Oct 4, 2001

Mars Odyssey was designed to map the chemical elements and minerals that made up the martian surface.

Mars Exploration Rovers

Jul 7, 2003

Spirit and Opportunity were made to further investigate signs of water and life on Mars.

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

Aug 12, 2005

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter was designed to study the climate and geology of Mars. The orbiter was also made to find possible landing sites on Mars for the future.

Phoenix Lander

May 25, 2008

Phoenix Lander was made to study the martian arctic and search for evidence of habitable landmarks on Mars.

Curiosity

Aug 6, 2012

Curiosity was designed to explore the Gale crater on Mars to search for signs of life.

Maven

Nov 18, 2013

Maven is an orbiter designed to explore Mars's upper atmosphere, ionosphere, and interactions with the Sun and solar wind.

Insight

Nov 26, 2018

This lander was designed to investigate the interior structure and composition of Mars.

Perseverance

Feb 18, 2021

Perseverance was designed to search for signs of ancient microbial life on Mars. Perseverance will collect rock and dust samples from an ancient lake that will later be examined on earth.