Skip Navigation
menu close modal

Resources

Mars Landing Sites for Landers and Rovers Powered by Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators

This map of Mars shows the landing sites of all NASA RTG-powered Mars rovers and landers

This map of Mars shows the landing sites of all NASA RTG-powered Mars rovers and landers as of 2021. Viking 1 landed on July 20, 1976 at Chryse Planitia, followed on Sept. 3, 1976 by the Viking 2 lander that landed in Utopia Planitia; NASA’s Mars Curiosity rover (Mars Science Laboratory) landed in Gale Crater on Aug. 5, 2012; and the Mars Perseverance rover (Mars 2020) landed in Jezero Crater on Feb. 18, 2021.

Credit

NASA/JPL-Caltech

ENLARGE

Related

Technicians at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida perform a fit check between the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover and its Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator on April 16-17, 2020.
More
Technicians perform a fit check between the Mars Perseverance rover and its Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator
Fitting the Rover's Power System
DRPS illustration of Sunpower Robust Stirling Convertor system from Sunpower, Inc.
More
illustration of Sunpower Robust Stirling Convertor system
Sunpower Robust Stirling Convertor (illustration)
This high-resolution color photo of the surface of Mars was taken by Viking Lander 2 at its Utopia Planitia landing site on May 18, 1979.
More
High-resolution color photo of the surface of Mars was taken by Viking Lander 2
Martian Frost
Reddish spots and shallow pits pepper the enigmatic ridged surface of Jupiter's moon Europa in this view from NASA's Galileo spacecraft.
More
View of enigmatic ridged surface of Jupiter's moon Europa
Ruddy "Freckles" on Europa
The spinning vortex of Saturn's north polar storm resembles a deep red rose of giant proportions surrounded by green foliage in this false-color image from NASA's Cassini spacecraft. 
More
Saturn: The Rose
Saturn: The Rose
At equinox, the shadows of the planet's expansive rings are compressed into a single, narrow band cast onto the planet as seen in this mosaic. 
More
Saturn's equinox captured in a mosaic of light and dark,
Changing Seasons on Saturn
There are no gas stations or mechanics in deep space.  So, if you want the power to perform science in the deep, dark frontiers of our solar system, you must have an engine that is reliable for the...
More
Sterling Radioisotope element
Testing Maintenance-Free Engines That Power Science in Deep Space
Scientist for a Day is an essay contest that challenges students in grades 5-12 to think like scientists.  
More
Flyer for the Scientist for a Day essay contest 2020-2021
Scientist for a Day Flyer - 2020-21
-- Updated as of March 2021 Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS) have provided the power to explore, discover, and understand our solar system and beyond. This graphic shows the type and destinations ...
More
This graphic shows the type and destinations of RPS missions where science was performed.
Flyby, Orbit, Rove, and Land
An enhanced color picture shows asteroid Ida and its moon, Dactyl. 
More
Color picture shows asteroid Ida and its moon, Dactyl.
Ida and Dactyl in Enhanced Color
Illustration of Cassini flyng by the planet Venus.
More
Illustration of Cassini flying by the planet Venus
Cassini Fly Past Venus - Illustration
Astronaut Alan Bean prepares the RTG to be fueled.
More
Astronaut Alan Bean prepares the RTG to be fueled.
Fueling the RTG on the Moon (image 2)
The Apollo Lunar Surface Experiment Package, ALSEP, was a collection of geophysical instruments designed to continue to monitor the environment of each Apollo landing site.
More
Artwork celebrating 60 years of RPS program and the ALSEP mission
RPS 60th: ALSEP Shareable
Graphite Impact Shell (GIS).
More
Graphite Impact Shell (GIS)
Graphite Impact Shell (GIS)
NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover, including its Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator, is shown on sol 108 of its mission in this image.
More
The Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator is visible in this image of Perseverance on Mars
NASA's Perseverance Near the Rim of Adziilii Crater
Apollo Lunar Surface Experiment Package (ALSEP) deployed on the lunar surface
More
ALSEP deployed on the lunar surface
ALSEP Deployed on the Lunar Surface
An American Superconductor free-piston Stirling Convertor.
More
An American Superconductor free-piston Stirling Convertor.
American Superconductor Free-Piston Stirling Convertor
MMRTG Dragonfly Mission: An illustration of the planned Dragonfly mission.
More
Illustration of Dragonfly as it flies over Titan
Illustration of the Planned Dragonfly Mission
The fuel insertion on F2, the MMRTG that would power NASA's Curiosity Rover.
More
The fuel insertion on F2, the MMRTG that would power NASA's Curiosity Rover. (Wide shot).
Fuel Insertion on F2 (Curiosity Rover's MMRTG)
The first photograph ever taken on the surface of the planet Mars. It was obtained by Viking 1 just minutes after the spacecraft landed successfully landing on Mars in July 1976.
More
Black and white image shows Viking 1 footpad and rocks on the surface of Mars.
First Picture From the Surface of Mars
Asteroid Ida and its moon Dactyl. Scientists found the moon - the first discovered orbiting and asteroid - when the Galileo spacecraft flew past Ida in 1993.
More
Ida and Dactyl
Ida and Dactyl
Launched on June 29, 1961, Transit IV-A was the first satellite to carry a radioisotope power system into space. 
More
illustration of Transit 4-A
RPS 60th: Transit IV-A Shareable
This iconic image was taken by NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft from a distance of almost 4 billion miles from Earth. From Voyager's great distance, Earth is a mere point of light, less than the size of...
More
Image was taken by NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft from a distance of almost 4 billion miles from Earth.
Earth as a 'Pale Blue Dot'
Voyager 1 took this photo of Jupiter and two of its satellites (Io at left and Europa at right) as it approached its flyby encounter with the planet in 1979.
More
Photo of Jupiter and two of its satellites
Jupiter, Io and Europa
A stack of GPHS units ready for insertion on F2, the MMRTG that would power the Curiosity Rover.
More
A stack of GPHS units ready for insertion on F2, the MMRTG that would power the Curiosity Rover
GPHS Units Ready for Insertion

You Might Also Like