Public interest in Mars rover missions has grown a lot over the years. This is thanks to new technology and better ways to share information. Here are some important events in this journey:

1. Early Missions (Spirit and Opportunity):

   • Launch Dates: Spirit launched on June 10, 2003, and Opportunity followed on July 7, 2003.
   • Public Interest: Spirit and Opportunity caught the attention of millions of people around the world. Opportunity worked far longer than its original plan of 90 days, lasting almost 15 years and sending back more than 217,000 pictures to Earth.
   • Engagement Channels: NASA used press releases and TV broadcasts to share news, which drew a lot of public interest. The rovers had their own websites with updates and photos, but social media was just starting out.

2. Curiosity Mission:

   • Launch Date: Curiosity launched on November 26, 2011.
   • Public Engagement: People watched Curiosity land live in August 2012, with over 1 million viewers tuning in. The rover's ‘selfie’ photos became popular and were shared widely on social media.
   • Statistics: The mission’s Twitter account gained more than 2.5 million followers, making it one of NASA's most popular missions.

3. Perseverance Rover:

   • Launch Date: Perseverance launched on July 30, 2020.
   • Virtual Engagement: Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, NASA had to find new ways to connect with the public. The rover's landing was live-streamed on YouTube and drew over 4 million views.
   • Popularity Metrics: By 2021, the Perseverance mission had a social media following of over 8 million people, leading to more conversations about space exploration.

In conclusion, the way people engage with Mars missions has shifted from traditional media to more interactive and online experiences. This change has helped missions like Spirit, Opportunity, Curiosity, and Perseverance reach and inspire more people than ever before.