Mars Pathfinder was a NASA mission that launched on December 4, 1996, and successfully landed on Mars on July 4, 1997. Its primary goal was to demonstrate new technologies for future Mars exploration and to study the Martian surface and atmosphere. The mission included a lander and a small rover named Sojourner, which was the first successful robotic rover to operate on another planet. The Mars Pathfinder mission provided valuable data about the Martian terrain, rocks, and soil. It operated for about three months, far exceeding its planned lifespan. The mission helped pave the way for subsequent Mars missions, enhancing our understanding of the planet's geology and potential for past life.