page_title: List of uncrewed NASA missions
section_title: Mars Exploration Rover (2003-2019)
hierarchical_section_title: List of uncrewed NASA missions / List of missions / Mars Exploration Rover (2003-2019)
caption_attribution_description: English: An artist's concept portrays a NASA Mars Exploration Rover on the surface of Mars. Two rovers have been built for 2003 launches and January 2004 arrival at two sites on Mars. Each rover has the mobility and toolkit to function as a robotic geologist. Français&#160;: Vue d'artiste d'un Mars Exploration Rover (litt. «&#160;rover d'exploration martienne&#160;»).
context_page_description: Since 1958, NASA has overseen more than 1,000 uncrewed missions into Earth orbit or beyond. It has both launched its own missions and provided funding for private-sector missions. A number of NASA missions, including the Explorers Program, Voyager program, and New Frontiers program, are ongoing.
context_section_description: NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Mission (MER), was a robotic space mission involving two rovers exploring the planet Mars. The mission is managed for NASA by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which designed, built and is operating the rovers.
  The mission began in 2003 with the sending of the two rovers—MER-A Spirit and MER-B Opportunity—to explore the Martian surface and geology. The mission's scientific objective is to search for and study rocks and soils that indicate past water activity. The mission is part of NASA's Mars Exploration Program which includes three previous successful landers: the two Viking program landers in 1976 and Mars Pathfinder probe in 1997.
  The total cost of building, launching, landing and operating the rovers on the surface for the initial 90-Martian-day (sol) primary mission was US$820 million. However, both rovers were able to continue functioning beyond the initial 90-day mission, and received multiple mission extensions. The Spirit rover remained operational until 2009, while the Opportunity rover remained operational until 2018.
caption: Artist's conception of MER on Mars
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