Rocky 7
JPL research microrover that added a camera mast and sampling arm to the Sojourner class design, field tested in the Mojave Desert.
| Maker | NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Launched | 1996 |
| Status | Retired |
| Actuation | Six wheel rocker bogie drive with two steered wheels |
| Power | Solar panel with battery |
| Sensors | Deployable camera mast, stereo cameras, sampling arm and scoop |
| Autonomy | Waypoint driving with onboard hazard detection |
Rocky 7 was a rocker bogie microrover used to prototype the science operations later flown on the Mars Exploration Rovers, including a deployable mast for panoramic imaging and a small arm with a scoop. Engineers ran it at Lavic Lake and other Mojave Desert sites, letting remote science teams plan each day's activity from returned images alone. The trials shaped how mission teams sequence a rover day and how much a rover can achieve between contacts.
Of note
- Prototyped mast based science operations later used on Mars
- Used for remote science team field trials in the Mojave Desert
Maker: www.jpl.nasa.gov