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A Complete History of Mars Exploration

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1. Viking 1 and 2 (1976)

NASA's Viking 1 and 2 were the first probes to successfully land on the surface of Mars, in 1976, conducting experiments to check for the presence of life, but found no conclusive evidence.

2. Spirit and Opportunity rovers (2004)

Twin rovers that landed on Mars in 2004; far exceeding their originally planned 90-day mission, Opportunity explored the Martian surface for about 15 years until a sandstorm cut off communication in 2018.

3. Curiosity rover (2012)

A car-sized rover that landed in Gale Crater in August 2012; powered by a radioisotope generator, it continues to explore the Martian surface and atmosphere to this day.

4. Perseverance rover and Ingenuity helicopter (2021)

Perseverance, which landed in Jezero Crater on February 18, 2021, is collecting rock samples for future return to Earth; the small helicopter Ingenuity, which landed alongside it, achieved the first powered flight on Mars, expanding its originally planned 5 test flights to 72 before ending its mission in January 2024 due to rotor damage.

5. The discovery of traces of water

Opportunity, Curiosity, and Perseverance have all discovered traces of ancient lake and river delta sediment layers on the Martian surface, accumulating evidence supporting the idea that Mars was a warmer environment with flowing water billions of years ago.

6. The current state of crewed Mars exploration plans

NASA has presented crewed Mars exploration as a long-term goal following the Artemis lunar missions, and SpaceX continues development aimed at Mars settlement using its large Starship rocket, but as of 2026, no concrete crewed Mars launch schedule has been finalized.

Why has Mars long been a target of exploration?

Mars is considered the planet in the solar system most similar in environment to Earth, and has had more probes sent to it than any other planet since the 1960s. Rovers and orbiters have steadily investigated traces of past water and the possibility that life once existed there.

Also explore SpaceX, which dreams of Mars settlement

The future of crewed Mars exploration is closely tied to advances in private spaceflight technology. See our overview of SpaceX and its major achievements to check the current state of Starship development.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has life actually been found on Mars?

No direct evidence of life has been found on Mars yet. However, as numerous traces of water, such as ancient lake and river sediment layers, have been confirmed, research continues into the possibility that the environment could have once supported life.

What happened to the Ingenuity helicopter?

Ingenuity ended its flight mission in January 2024 after its rotor was damaged during landing, and it has since remained stationary, continuing to collect data that will be useful for future exploration.