When they arrive on Earth, the Mars samples will undergo in-depth analysis by scientists around the world using equipment far too large to send to the Red Planet. Two future missions currently under consideration by NASA, in collaboration with ESA (European Space Agency), will work together to get the samples to an orbiter for return to Earth. ![]() The Martian rock and dust Perseverance’s Sample Caching System collects could answer fundamental questions about the potential for life to exist beyond Earth. Perseverance carries seven main science instruments. As our instruments investigate rocks along an ancient lake bottom and select samples to return to Earth, we may very well be reaching back in time to get the information scientists need to say that life has existed elsewhere in the universe." "Perseverance is going to make discoveries that cause us to rethink our questions about what Mars was like and how we understand it today. "Jezero Crater is the perfect place to search for signs of ancient life,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate at the agency's headquarters in Washington. ![]() Perseverance's astrobiology mission is to seek out signs of past microscopic life on Mars, explore the diverse geology of its landing site, Jezero Crater, and demonstrate key technologies that will help us prepare for future robotic and human exploration. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona ![]() This annotated image of Jezero Crater depicts the routes for Perseverance’s first science campaign (yellow hash marks) as well as its second (light-yellow hash marks). Once the rover begins pursuing its science goals, regular commutes extending 656 feet (200 meters) or more are expected. The drive served as a mobility test – marking one of many milestones as team members check out and calibrate every system, subsystem, and instrument on Perseverance. Perseverance performed its first drive on Mars on March 4, 2021, covering 21.3 feet (6.5 meters) across the Martian landscape. “This landing is one of those pivotal moments for NASA, the United States, and space exploration globally – when we know we are on the cusp of discovery and sharpening our pencils, so to speak, to rewrite the textbooks,” said acting NASA Administrator Steve Jurczyk. The Perseverance rover mission marks an ambitious first step in the effort to collect Mars samples and return them to Earth. Packed with groundbreaking technology, the Mars 2020 mission launched July 30, 2020, from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Confirmation of the successful touchdown was announced in mission control at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California at 3:55 p.m. 18, 2021, after a 203-day journey traversing 293 million miles (472 million kilometers). Perseverance – the largest, most advanced rover NASA has sent to another world – touched down on Mars on Feb. 1, 2021: Perseverance successfully cores its first Mars rock In Depth June 1, 2021: Perseverance begins first science campaign March 4, 2021: Perseverance rover's first drive on MarsĪpril 19, 2021: First powered flight on another planet (Ingenuity helicopter) ![]()
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