Past Forward: This Little Mars Rover Stayed Home

On 4 July 1997, Mars Pathfinder parachuted through the Martian atmosphere and bounced to a landing encased in glorified airbags. The next day the airbags retracted, and a microwave-oven-size rover named Sojourner eased its way down the ramp, becoming the first human-made vehicle to roll around on the surface of another planet. For the next 83 days, Sojourner captivated the world with inspiring images from the Red Planet.