Sojourner

Source

• Born: 4 July 1997
• Birthplace: Jet Propulsion Labs, Pasadena, California
• Died: 27 September 1997
• Best Known As: The first rolling robot to land on Mars

The Sojourner rover (officially named Sojourner Truth after the American abolitionist) landed on Mars on July 4, 1997 as part of NASA's Mars Pathfinder mission. As planned, Sojourner rolled around the planet's surface taking scientific readings of various bits of rock and soil. The plucky robot lasted until at least September, when communications with Earth were cut off due to failing power.