The Spirit Rover was a robotic vehicle designed to explore the surface of Mars. Launched by NASA in June 2003, it was part of the Mars Exploration Rover mission, alongside its twin, Opportunity. Spirit landed on Mars in January 2004 and was tasked with studying the planet's geology and searching for signs of past water. During its mission, Spirit traveled over 4.8 miles (7.7 kilometers) and made significant discoveries, including evidence of ancient volcanic activity and past water presence. The rover operated until 2010, when it became stuck in soft soil and lost communication. Despite its challenges, Spirit greatly contributed to our understanding of Mars.