The Mars 2020 mission, featuring the Perseverance rover and Ingenuity helicopter, has been exploring the Martian surface, sending back stunning images and videos of the terrain. The mission has achieved several firsts, including the first sounds from Mars and the first test of a new onboard navigation system.
Perseverance's project manager, Jennifer Trosper, has been working on the mission for seven years. The mission has two technology demonstrations: MOXIE, an instrument that uses the carbon dioxide atmosphere to produce oxygen, and the Ingenuity helicopter, which has flown on Mars.
After over 10 months on Mars, the mission is still gathering data and testing theories. One of the most important milestones was when Perseverance began collecting rock core samples. NASA plans to retrieve these samples with another spacecraft, expected to launch from Earth in 2026 and arrive at Mars in 2028.
The Ingenuity helicopter became the first craft to fly in the atmosphere of another planet in April. It has been flying continuously, testing the helicopter's ability to move horizontally and covering longer distances in each subsequent flight.
NASA selected Jezero Crater as Perseverance's landing site because it gives the rover access to a large stack of rocks that scientists believe were deposited by an ancient river. The mission's first study, published in the journal Science, found that for potentially millions of years, a river flowed into a lake that filled Jezero Crater.
In December, scientists confirmed that the martian bedrock likely formed from red hot magma, which was a big surprise to the team.
1. On February 18th, NASA's Mars 2020 mission touched down on Mars with its Perseverance rover and Ingenuity helicopter.
2. These rovers and the helicopter have been exploring the Martian terrain and sending back images and videos of the surface.
3. The Mars 2020 mission has had several firsts, including the first sounds from Mars and the first test of a new onboard navigation system.
4. Jennifer Trosper has been working on the mission for the past seven years.
5. The mission has two technology demonstrations: an instrument called MOXIE that uses the carbon dioxide atmosphere to produce oxygen, and the successful demonstration of flying helicopters on Mars.
6. Over 10 months on Mars, the mission has learned a lot about the planet's potential for signs of ancient life.
7. The mission is planning to retrieve Perseverance's Martian rock samples with another spacecraft, which is expected to launch from Earth in 2026 and arrive at Mars in 2028.
8. The Ingenuity helicopter became the first craft to fly in the atmosphere of another planet in April.
9. The helicopter, which was initially designed for just five flights, has been flying continuously, covering longer distances in each subsequent flight.
10. NASA selected Jezero Crater as Perseverance's landing site because it gives the rover access to a large stack of rocks that scientists believe were deposited by an ancient river about 3.5 billion years ago.
11. On October 7th, NASA scientists published the mission's first study, which found that a river flowed into a lake that filled Jezero Crater for potentially millions of years.
12. The mission has collected a set of samples that are very good for the lower crater area and plans to return 30 of them to Earth in the early 2030s.
13. In December, NASA scientists confirmed that the Martian bedrock on which the Perseverance rover has been driving since February likely formed from red-hot magma.