Apr 18, 2026
Which Mars rover was the first to successfully use airbag-cushioned landing, bouncing to a stop on the Martian surface in 1997?
Pending
Answer
Sojourner. The Mars Pathfinder mission landed on July 4, 1997, deploying the small Sojourner rover. It was the first rover to operate on Mars and demonstrated the airbag bounce-and-roll landing system that NASA later reused for the Spirit and Opportunity rovers. Sojourner operated for 83 sols, far exceeding its 7-sol design life.