PREPARE FOR PERSEVERANCE THE NEXT MARTIAN ROVER

Meet the new Martian rover from NASA, Perseverance. This next-generation explorer was built upon the successes of its predecessors Spirit, Opportunity and the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), also known as Curiosity. All of these robot explorers have worked towards helping us better understand the planet next door, Mars, and in the wider scope of science understanding the past biology and geology of other worlds. Now the Mars 2020 mission’s Perseverance rover is looking to go even further.

The launch date for this mission is scheduled for 17 July 2020, but the launch window will remain open until 5 August in case of setbacks. It will fly on top of an Atlas V 541 rocket, which also launched Curiosity and InSight, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. However, it won’t be travelling alone. Alongside Perseverance will be a first-of-its-kind demonstration aircraft called the Mars Helicopter – more affectionately nicknamed Ingenuity. After launching the duo will spend over half a year voyaging through space