What about moons of the planets? Do rovers on e.g. Titan or Europa count?

(Or the Moon for that matter?)

Do dwarf planets (e.g. Ceres) count?

@OnixarLilen Presumably from the way the question is asked, a rover on another moon wouldn't count. Which is a bit sad because we're probably sending a quadcopter to Titan in 2027 which is cool enough to count if it were up to me :D

For the curious:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragonfly_(spacecraft)

@Mqrius Hmm, yeah, maybe I should have included moons. Oh well.

You say it must be expected to run indefinitely in the comments below - can you please add qualifiers to that? I believe all rovers to date have had an expected lifespan (albeit, some longer than others).

@RobertCousineau I think I explained it in the description already? Must have a long-term power source.

@IsaacKing in your description you currently have an "and" conditional and say it must be able to travel "arbitrary distance". While I definitely think I get your intent with that, "arbitrary distance" and "run indefinitely" both mean this market is unlikely to resolve true (if taken literally) in any foreseeable future.

@RobertCousineau Does "designed to be operation for at least 6 months" seem reasonable?

@IsaacKing I'd say "exhibit self powered locomotion throughout a 6 month period" maybe?

@RobertCousineau Hmm, well if it successfully roves for 5 months and then breaks down, I feel like that should still count?

This would have precluded Sojourner which seems unintuitive since that was the first rover on another planet

@IsaacKing feel free to adjust the time period as you wish.

@JoshuaWilkes Ah, good point. What about "It must not have a built in hard limit on its operating lifespan", like a battery would provide?

@IsaacKing that would technically preclude the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers, since their RTGs will run out eventually.

@JoshuaWilkes I think if this were my market I just wouldn't specify that it needs to be a long-term rover, but I think you've already crossed that bridge.

Could you clarify what a flying rover is? Would a balloon count?

@JoshuaWilkes Yeah

@IsaacKing what about the Vega balloons?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vega_program

@JoshuaWilkes Nah, too short term. I've clarified that rovers must be designed to operate indefinitely.

Here's a manalink to make up for your bet in case you had made it thinking Vega would count, and as a thank-you for pointing that out. https://manifold.markets/link/rFKzV5sJ

@IsaacKing You're alright. I factored the risk you'd say it wouldn't count into my bet. I hope we get a solar powered Venus aircraft!

There's also the land sailing rover, which NASA seem quite serious about supporting in development