NASA's Perseverance rover successfully landed on Mars on February 18, 2021, in Jezero Crater, marking the beginning of its mission to explore the Martian surface.
To search for signs of past microbial life, characterizing the planet's geology and climate, and collecting samples of Martian rocks and soil for future return to Earth.
Objective
Perseverance is equipped with instruments and technology, including cameras, spectrometers, and a drill capable of collecting core samples of Martian rock.
One of Perseverance's key tasks is collecting samples of Martian rocks and soil for future return to Earth by a follow-up mission which will be analyzed for signs of past life and provide valuable insights into the planet's history and potential habitability.
Perseverance successfully deployed the Ingenuity helicopter, which completed its first powered flight on Mars on April 19, 2021.
Perseverance successfully deployed the Ingenuity helicopter, which completed its first powered flight on Mars on April 19, 2021.
Perseverance, equipped with a weather station called the Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA), monitors temperature, wind, humidity, and dust levels to provide valuable data for future missions and human exploration.
Since its landing, Perseverance has been exploring its landing site in Jezero Crater, traversing the Martian terrain, conducting scientific observations, and testing its instruments and systems.
Perseverance's scientific investigations are focused on understanding Mars' past and present environments, including the study of ancient river deltas, mineral deposits, and potential biosignatures preserved in Martian rocks.
Perseverance's mission is a collaboration between NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA), which provided the Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer (MOXIE) instrument.