Glossary term: Rover
Description: Un rover es una máquina fabricada por el ser humano que se envía a la superficie de otro planeta o luna a bordo de una nave espacial para estudiar ese planeta de cerca y enviar a la Tierra los datos que recopila mediante un método de comunicación. La mayoría pueden controlarse desde la Tierra y desplazarse por la superficie del planeta o luna, aunque los vehículos lunares de la misión Apolo eran conducidos por los astronautas en la Luna. Un rover puede transportar numerosos instrumentos científicos, como pequeños taladros, una herramienta para la recogida de muestras, cámaras e incluso un pequeño laboratorio para analizar muestras del aire y del suelo y enviar los resultados a la Tierra.
Related Terms:
See this term in other languages
Term and definition status: The original definition of this term in English have been approved by a research astronomer and a teacher The translation of this term and its definition is still awaiting approval
The OAE Multilingual Glossary is a project of the IAU Office of Astronomy for Education (OAE) in collaboration with the IAU Office of Astronomy Outreach (OAO). The terms and definitions were chosen, written and reviewed by a collective effort from the OAE, the OAE Centers and Nodes, the OAE National Astronomy Education Coordinators (NAECs) and other volunteers. You can find a full list of credits here. All glossary terms and their definitions are released under a Creative Commons CC BY-4.0 license and should be credited to "IAU OAE".
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In Other Languages
- Árabe: المركبة الجوالة
- Alemán: Rover
- Inglés: Rover
- Francés: Rover
- Italiano: Rover
- Portugués de Brasil: Veículo Explorador (Rover)
- Chino simplificado: 漫游车
- Chino tradicional: 漫遊車
Related Media
Mars rover Curiosity
Caption: This self-portrait of NASA's Curiosity Mars rover shows the vehicle at the site from which it reached down to drill into a rock target called "Buckskin" on lower Mount Sharp. The selfie combines several component images taken by Curiosity's Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) on 5 August 2015, during the 1,065th Martian day, or sol, of the rover's work on Mars.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
credit link
License: PD Public Domain icons
Record-Breaking Off-Earth Driving: Rovers on Mars & the Moon
Caption: Part of the Simplifying Astronomy for Arabic Speakers project, this infographic highlights the longest distances traveled by rovers on Mars and the Moon, showcasing space exploration’s progress.
Top Rovers & Their Achievements
Mars: NASA’s Opportunity holds the record, covering 45.16 km between 2004–2018.
Moon: The Soviet Lunokhod 2 leads with 39 km, followed by Apollo rovers:
Apollo 17: 35.74 km
Apollo 15: 27.8 km
Apollo 16: 27.1 km
Mars vs. Moon: Different Challenges
1. Martian Terrain – Mars has a thin atmosphere, dust storms, and rugged landscapes, requiring durable, long-term rovers.
2. Lunar Terrain – The Moon’s cratered surface lacks an atmosphere, allowing easier movement but with shorter mission durations.
3. Mission Longevity – Mars rovers operate for years, while Apollo lunar rovers were used briefly.
Future Rovers & Expectations
Curiosity may reach 42.195 km, making it one of Mars' most traveled rovers.
Yutu-2 (China) continues exploring the Moon since 2019.
Conclusion
These record-breaking distances showcase technological advancements in planetary exploration. With continued innovation, future rovers will go even further, paving the way for ambitious human missions beyond Earth!
Credit: Ali Al-Edhari ; adapted from the original by NASA/JPL-Caltech
License: CC-BY-4.0 Creative Commons Reconocimiento 4.0 Internacional (CC BY 4.0) icons
Related Activities
Driving on Mars
astroEDU educational activity (links to astroEDU website) Description: An educational interdisciplinary game to drive a rover on Mars
License: CC-BY-4.0 Creative Commons Reconocimiento 4.0 Internacional (CC BY 4.0) icons
Tags:
Game
, robot
, robotics
, simulation
, telecommunications
Age Ranges:
14-16
, 16-19
Education Level:
Middle School
, Secondary
Areas of Learning:
Guided-discovery learning
Costs:
Low Cost
Duration:
2 hours
Group Size:
Group
Skills:
Communicating information
, Developing and using models
, Using mathematics and computational thinking
