Perseverance breaks off-world driving record after reaching 45.22 km on Mars
NASA's Perseverance rover has driven farther than any vehicle ever has on the surface of another world. On October 11, 2026, its odometer reached 45.22 kilometres, or 28.10 miles.
That pushed Perseverance past the previous record of 45.16 kilometres set by Opportunity, which explored Mars from 2004 to 2018.
Perseverance reached the new mark in about five and a half years, while Opportunity accumulated its distance over almost 15 years.
Perseverance sets a new Mars driving record
According to NASA, the rover reached 28.10 miles on the 2,006th Martian day of its mission.
The milestone came while Perseverance was travelling through the Lac de Charmes region toward an area known as Idubi.
Autonomous driving made the pace possible
NASA credits much of the rover's faster progress to AutoNav, an autonomous navigation system that images terrain, builds a three-dimensional hazard map and plots a route while driving.
Perseverance has used autonomous navigation for more than 90% of the distance it has covered.
The rover has already exceeded its original driving plan
The original mission called for no more than about 20 kilometres of driving. Perseverance has now travelled more than twice that distance while its mobility systems remain operational.
NASA says the rover can cover as much as 412 metres in a single Martian day under favourable conditions.
Where Perseverance is going next
The mission has been extended through roughly the end of 2028. Perseverance will continue exploring ancient terrain around the rim of Jezero Crater.
The science team hopes to reach areas that may preserve evidence of ancient hydrothermal systems while the rover continues collecting rock and regolith samples.
