Photos: Rover prototypes at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Before constructing the actual rovers that are sent into space, NASA scientists develop prototype bots to experiment with hardware and software. These devices were on display at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory open house in Pasadena, Calif., on May 4, 2008.

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

The NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory sits at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains in Pasadena, Calif. The federally funded facility, which is managed by the California Institute of Technology, helps develop robotic spacecraft for planetary exploration.

Photo Credit: David O'Grady/CNET Networks