NASA Rover Heads to Mars

By Joe Palca

Published June 10, 2003 at 10:00 PM MDT

NASA launches the first of two missions to Mars. Exploration Rover A, also known as Spirit, is scheduled to land in January to look for evidence that water once flowed on the Red Planet. It would be the first mission to reach Mars since July 4, 1997. Hear NPR's Joe Palca.

Joe Palca

Joe Palca is a science correspondent for NPR. Since joining NPR in 1992, Palca has covered a range of science topics — everything from biomedical research to astronomy. He is currently focused on the eponymous series, "Joe's Big Idea." Stories in the series explore the minds and motivations of scientists and inventors. Palca is also the founder of NPR Scicommers – A science communication collective.

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