How does a Mars Rover work? (Perseverance)

Jared Owen13 minutes read

The Mars Rover Perseverance is a highly advanced robot costing 2.5 billion U.S. dollars, designed and built in California and launched to Mars in 2020. Equipped with various scientific instruments and a helicopter named Ingenuity, Perseverance aims to pave the way for future missions to Mars, including the return of samples to Earth and potential human exploration.

Insights

  • Perseverance, the Mars Rover, is a highly sophisticated robot that cost 2.5 billion U.S. dollars, designed and assembled at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California over eight years, showcasing the immense technological and financial investment required for interplanetary exploration.
  • The successful deployment of the Ingenuity helicopter on Mars, with its unique design to navigate the planet's thin atmosphere, signifies a groundbreaking achievement in aviation history, demonstrating NASA's commitment to pushing the boundaries of space exploration through innovative technology and collaborative missions.

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Recent questions

  • How much did the Mars Rover Perseverance cost?

    2.5 billion U.S. dollars

  • Where was the Mars Rover Perseverance designed and built?

    Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California

  • How long did it take to complete the Mars Rover Perseverance?

    Eight years

  • What instruments does the Mars Rover Perseverance have?

    SuperCam, Mastcam-Z, MEDA, HazCams, RTG power source, RIMFAX, MOXIE, robotic arm with tools like PIXL, WATSON, SHERLOC, Coring Drill

  • What was the purpose of sending the helicopter Ingenuity with the Mars Rover Perseverance?

    Facilitate future missions and test flight on Mars

Related videos

Summary

00:00

"Perseverance: Mars Rover Mission Success"

  • The Mars Rover Perseverance is the most advanced robot to land on another planet, costing 2.5 billion U.S. dollars.
  • NASA has sent previous rovers to Mars, including Sojourner in 1997, Spirit and Opportunity in 2004, Curiosity in 2012, and Perseverance in 2021.
  • Perseverance was designed and built at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, taking eight years to complete in a clean room environment.
  • The rover was transported to Kennedy Space Center in Florida for launch on an Atlas V rocket by the United Launch Alliance.
  • Perseverance was launched on July 30, 2020, using solid rocket boosters and a Centaur Stage to reach Mars in seven months.
  • The rover consists of the Descent Stage, Heat Shield, Backshell, and Cruise Stage, with Trajectory Correction Maneuvers made during the journey.
  • The Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL) process on Mars involves detaching the Cruise Stage, deploying a parachute, using Terrain Relative Navigation, and executing the Sky Crane Maneuver for touchdown.
  • Perseverance's scientific instruments include the SuperCam, Mastcam-Z, MEDA, HazCams, RTG power source, RIMFAX, MOXIE, and a robotic arm with tools like PIXL, WATSON, SHERLOC, and a Coring Drill.
  • Communication back to Earth is facilitated through the Mars Relay Network, with Perseverance equipped with UHF, High-Gain, and Low-Gain Antennas.
  • Ingenuity, a helicopter sent with Perseverance, was deployed onto the Martian surface two months after landing, stored in a compartment on the rover.

15:22

"Ingenuity: Mars Helicopter Makes Historic Flight"

  • The helicopter on Mars, named Ingenuity, has two rotors spinning in opposite directions due to the thin air on the planet, requiring faster blade rotation than on Earth. Ingenuity successfully completed its first test flight two months after landing, marking the first flight on another planet. Perseverance, the rover, is facilitating future missions, including the potential return of Martian samples to Earth and the ultimate goal of sending humans to Mars.
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