Mars rover breaks record for off-planet driving

NASA’s Perseverance rover has now driven further than any other vehicle on another world, clocking 45.2km on Mars since landing in 2021

3m
2.2m

Detail map

Perseverance hits milestone five and a half years into its mission to search for signs Mars could once have supported life

Jezero Crater
Diameter
45km

Ancient delta

Crater rim

Potential biosignature

Biggest discovery
Last year, rover found signs of ancient microbial life in rock from river that once fed lake in Jezero Crater

Current position

Feb 18, 2021
Landing

OFF-PLANET DRIVING DISTANCES

Mars
Moon

Perseverance
Opportunity
Lunokhod 2
Curiosity*
Apollo 17 Lunar Rover
Apollo 15 Lunar Rover
Lunokhod I
Spirit
Sojourner
Yutu 2

U.S.
U.S.
USSR
U.S.
U.S.
U.S.
USSR
U.S.
U.S.
China

2020-
2004-18
1973
2012-
1972
1971
1970-71
2004-10
1997
2019-24

45.22km
45.16
39.0
38.1
35.7
27.8
10.5
7.7
0.1
0.1

In under six years, Perseverance has passed record set by Opportunity, which roamed Mars for nearly 15 years

1.25 miles
2km

Source: NASA
Pictures: NASA, ESA/DLR/FU-Berlin, NASA/JPL
*Remains active
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