--- title: "A Random Reminder That NASA Drew a Big Ol’ Dick on the Surface of Mars" description: "Twenty years ago, NASA's Spirit rover drew a dick in Martian dust — a perfect moment in mankind's interstellar history." date: "2024-04-25" modified: "2024-04-25" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/nasa-dick-mars" categories: - "Astronomy" - "Mars" - "NASA" - "Space" tags: - "mars" - "NASA" - "rover" - "the digest" --- # A Random Reminder That NASA Drew a Big Ol’ Dick on the Surface of Mars ![Twenty years ago, NASA's Spirit rover drew a dick in Martian dust — a perfect moment in mankind's interstellar history.]() *\Image: NASA / JPL / Cornell\* ## Never Forget Where were *you* when NASA's Spirit rover drew a dick in Martian dust? For nearly 70 years, NASA — often with help from international friends — has been charting human history in the cosmos. Landing men on the Moon! Sending the Juno spacecraft to Jupiter! Launching the science-accelerating Hubble Space Telescope, and *then* vaulting the extraordinary James Webb Space Telescope into the heavens to change the game once again! There's one particular NASA moment, though, that some (us) would hate to see lost to the annals of history: that time 20 years ago when the Spirit rover (may it [rest in peace]()) carved an [undeniably phallic shape]() into Mars' surface. Science... it's amazing. File under: leaps for mankind. https://twitter.com/DeShawnstantine/status/796743345477447680 ## Spirit's Legacy As a [2013 report from *NBC* notes](), Spirit drew its iconic Martian phallus back in 2004, shortly after landing on the dusty Red Planet alongside sister rover Opportunity. And fascinatingly, Spirit isn't the only rover to carve a phallic figure on our neighboring planet's surface; the tracks are actually the result of a standard rover turning maneuver, and both Opportunity and the next-generation Curiosity rover, which landed in 2012, were known to make similar markings with their wheels. That's right, everyone — Mars hasn't just been home to one instance of penile graffiti, but several. Incredible stuff. Of course, the [legacy of Spirit](), its sister craft, and the rovers that have followed are far greater than one 20-year-old image. These crafts have captured an [incredible amount of data]() that's helped mankind better understand Earth's fascinating cosmic neighbor, a feat that may aid [future crewed Mars missions](). And also, they draw dicks. What more could we ask for? **More on Mars rovers:** [*Here's What NASA's Rovers See During an Eclipse on Mars*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()