A lander is a spacecraft designed to descend towards and come to rest on the surface of an astronomical body, such as a planet or moon, while a rover is a vehicle that moves across the solid surface of a planet or other celestial body. Here are some key points about landers and rovers:
-
Lander: A lander is a protective "shell" that houses the rover and protects it, along with the airbags, from the forces of impact during landing. Landers are typically designed to make a soft landing, after which the probe remains functional. They are responsible for delivering the rover to the surface of the astronomical body.
-
Rover: A rover is a planetary surface exploration device designed to move across the solid surface of a planet or other celestial body. Rovers are essential tools in space exploration, as they are tasked with collecting information about the terrain and taking samples, such as dust, soil, rocks, and even liquids. Some rovers are designed to be partially or fully autonomous robots, while others are intended to transport members of a human spaceflight crew. Rovers are typically deployed on another planet via a lander-style spacecraft.
