Which of these are the robots that explored Mars?

• A. ASIMO, Genghis, and Spirit
• B. Unimation, Dante, and AIBO
• C. Sojourner, Spirit, and Opportunity
• D. Stanley, ZEUS, and Opportunity

Answer: (C)

Rovers used for Mars exploration are mobile robotic platforms designed to travel across the Martian surface and carry instruments to study rocks, soil, and the atmosphere. Sojourner, part of the Mars Pathfinder mission in 1997, became the first rover to operate on another planet, performing on-site analyses and demonstrating how a small rover can navigate Martian terrain. Spirit and Opportunity, the twin rovers of the Mars Exploration Rover mission, landed in 2004 and operated for many years, sending back detailed data about geology, minerals, and evidence of past water activity across different regions of Mars. The other groupings mix in robots that didn’t explore Mars—such as humanoid or industrial robots—so they don’t fit the Mars rover context. Hence, Sojourner along with Spirit and Opportunity is the correct set.