Answer:
Explanation: When Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon 50 years ago, it was an inspiring moment for people around the world.
But another kind of explorer is responsible for much of the modern enthusiasm for space exploration.
"Since the days of Apollo, the greatest adventures in space have been these robots that have gone all over the solar system," says Emily Lakdawalla, a self-described planetary evangelist at the Planetary Society.
By "these robots," Lakdawalla means the various robotic probes that have flown past planets, moons and asteroids — orbiting some, landing on others.
Astronauts do still explore space. The International Space Station is a remarkable piece of hardware. Humans have been living on it for nearly two decades. But as amazing as the space station is, excitement about it is relatively muted.
Lakdawalla says it would be inspiring to see an astronaut land on Mars, but in the meantime, inspiration is coming from NASA's Mars rovers.
NASA Probe Lands Safely On Martian Surface
JOE'S BIG IDEA
NASA Probe Lands Safely On Martian Surface
"It's very easy to anthropomorphize them and imagine ourselves rolling across the surface of Mars," she says. "It's really not a stretch to imagine ourselves in the place of these robots exploring across the solar system."
Millions of people around the world have watched with delight as the six-wheeled rovers have trundled across the Martian surface, snapping pictures and taking selfies.
