Mars Surface

Exploration
Dozens of spacecraft, including orbiters, landers, and rovers, have been sent to Mars by the Soviet Union, the United States, Europe, and Japan to study the planet's surface, climate, and geology. As of 2008, the price of transporting material from the surface of Earth to the surface of Mars is approximately US$309,000 per kilogram.
Active probes at the Martian system as of 2011 include the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (since 2006), Mars Express (since 2003), 2001 Mars Odyssey (since 2001), and on the surface, Opportunity Rover (since 2004). More recently concluded missions include Mars Global Surveyor (1997-2006) and Spirit Rover (2004-2010).
Roughly two-thirds of all spacecraft destined for Mars have failed in one manner or another before completing or even beginning their missions, including the difficult late 20th century period of early pioneers and first-timers. In the 21st century failures are much less common. Mission failures are typically ascribed to technical problems, such as failed or lost communications or design errors, often due to inadequate funding or incompetence for a given mission. Such failures have given rise to a satirical counter-culture blaming the failures on an Earth-Mars "Bermuda Triangle", a Mars "Curse", or the "Great Galactic Ghoul" that feeds on Martian spacecraft. Some of the latest failures include Beagle 2 (2003), Mars Climate Orbiter (1999), and Mars 96 (1996).