Masks are required for all visitors 2+. Vaccines recommended. Plan your visit
Roving with Perseverance: Lifelike Model of NASA’s Mars Rover
Thursday, February 17, 2022–Sunday, May 1, 2022
Not a member yet? Join us and get free admission all year long!
Note: Free with museum admission—and it's always free for Daytime members (10 a.m.–5 p.m.), After Dark members (6–10 p.m.), and donors. Just bring your membership card and ID. The Tactile Dome is currently closed.
While NASA’s Perseverance rover is hard at work exploring Mars hundreds of millions of miles from Earth, a full-scale, lifelike model finds a temporary home at the Exploratorium! Since landing on Mars on February 18, 2021, Perseverance has been hunting for signs of ancient microbial life in order to collect and store samples of Martian rock and sediment to be retrieved by planned future missions for closer study on Earth.
Nearly the size of a car, with its camera “head” rising high, Perseverance’s six-wheeled look-alike towers over most visitors, offering a close up look at this ingenious explorer that is transforming humans’ understanding of Mars. Surrounding the rover is an immersive audio experience, crafted from the rich audio that Perseverance has captured from its two onboard microphones. Be sure to check out the Bechtel Gallery 3 Wattis Studio to dig in deeper to Perseverance, previous rover missions, and visual experiences inspired by space.
Keep an eye out for a collection of out-of-this world programs featuring staff from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory as well as local experts and tinkerers exploring Mars and more.
The Mars Perseverance Model is on loan from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory as part of their Roving with Perseverance tour.
Image courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech.
Upcoming Mars Events / Proximamente: eventos sobre Marte
There's always something interesting happening here—check out our upcoming events calendar.
Past Mars Events / Eventos anteriores sobre Marte
Full-Spectrum Science Online: Countdown to Mars
Wednesday, February 17, 2021 • 4:00 p.m. PST
At Full-Spectrum Science: Countdown to Mars, examine past missions to Mars and look ahead to the landing and roving of NASA's newest rover, Perseverance.
Landing Day! Countdown to Mars LIVE Online
Thursday, February 18, 2021 • Noon PST
On February 18, 2021, the newest Mars rover, Perseverance, will attempt to land on the Red Planet. We'll bring you live coverage of Landing Day from the Exploratorium. #CountdownToMars
La sonda de la NASA a Marte, Perseverancia: Programa en línea
miércoles 3 de marzo de 2021 • 4:00 p.m. PST
¡Acompáñanos en un programa virtual para aprender sobre la sonda más reciente de la NASA a Marte! La Dra. Isabel Hawkins, astrónoma del Exploratorium, compartirá detalles de la sonda “Perseverancia,” los retos que enfrenta la NASA y lo que los científicos esperan aprender del planeta rojo.
Checking in with Perseverance
Wednesday, May 12, 2021 • 1:00 p.m. PT
Catch up with the Mars rover Perseverance and find out what's happening on the Red Planet. Where has Perseverance been? What has it found? Where is it going? Tune in and space out.
Un vistazo a Perseverancia en línea
Martes 18 de mayo de 2021 • 1:00 p.m. PT
Luego del exitoso aterrizaje, o “amartizaje”, del rover Perseverancia el 18 de febrero, nos pondremos al día con la astrónoma del Exploratorium Isabel Hawkins, quien nos actualizará con las últimas noticias de la sonda a Marte.
Tinkering School Mars Mission
Thursday, February 17–Sunday, May 1, 2022
Inspired by (but not associated with) the ingenious engineering and problem-solving of NASA’s Mars missions, the Tinkering School Mars Mission team collaborated to build an educational, hands-on experience operating rovers in a simulated Martian lava tube.
After Dark: Mars!
Thursday, February 17, 2022 • 6:00–10:00 p.m. PT
NASA’s Perseverance rover has been hard at work exploring the Red Planet hundreds of millions of miles from our planet. Here on Earth you can experience a full-scale, lifelike model and some out-of-this world programs starting tonight.
Online Event: Persy's First Year on Mars
Friday, February 18, 2022 • 1:00 p.m. PT
Join members of the Mars Mission team who will give a rover roundup, outlining how Perseverance has spent its first year on Mars, and the ways it’s moving toward key mission objectives.
Mars Rover Landing Anniversary Party!
Saturday, February 19, 2022 • 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 20, 2022 • 11:00 a.m.–Noon Daytime Members + Donors Only
Noon–4:00 p.m. Open to the Public
Experience a full-scale, lifelike model of Perseverance; hear from Jet Propulsion Laboratory staff about the rover's findings and NASA’s Mars Exploration Program; and experience youth and artist-made projects and activities inspired by space exploration!
Mars Perseverance: Meet and Greet!
Saturday, April 30, 2022 • 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 1, 2022 • 11:00 a.m.–Noon Daytime Members + Donors Only
Noon–4:00 p.m. Open to the Public
Don’t miss the last chance to learn more about how scientists are studying Mars, see a life-size model of the Mars Perseverance rover up close, learn about what's being found, and drive a mini rover inspired by Persy.
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