The Perseverance rover mission to Mars 2020 is one of the most exciting and ambitious space exploration projects in recent history. This mission aims to investigate an ancient environment on Mars, assess its past habitability, and search for biosignatures of past microbial life. But that’s not all – the rover will also attempt to extract oxygen from the Martian atmosphere and carry a helicopter drone for scouting interesting targets.
The mission will explore Jezero crater, a site that was likely habitable and features a prominent river delta that could preserve microscopic fossils. This is an incredibly important location for the mission, as it could provide crucial insights into the history of Mars and the potential for life on the planet.
One of the most impressive aspects of the Perseverance rover mission is its planned surface mission. The rover is expected to operate for at least one Mars year, which is around 669 sols or 687 Earth days. This means that the rover will have plenty of time to explore the Martian environment and gather data that could help us better understand the planet and its potential for supporting life.
But what exactly will the Perseverance rover be doing during its mission? Let’s take a closer look at some of the key objectives:
Investigating an Ancient Environment
One of the primary goals of the Perseverance rover mission is to investigate an ancient environment on Mars. The rover will be equipped with a suite of scientific instruments that will allow it to study the geology, mineralogy, and geochemistry of the Martian surface. This data will help scientists better understand the history of Mars and the potential for life on the planet.
Assessing Past Habitability
Another important objective of the mission is to assess the past habitability of Mars. The rover will be searching for evidence of past water activity, as well as other signs that the planet may have been capable of supporting life in the past. This information could help us better understand the conditions necessary for life to exist on other planets.
Searching for Biosignatures
Perhaps the most exciting objective of the Perseverance rover mission is the search for biosignatures of past microbial life. The rover will be collecting samples of Martian rock and soil, which will be analyzed for signs of organic molecules and other indicators of past life. This is an incredibly challenging task, but if successful, it could provide the first concrete evidence that life exists beyond Earth.
Extracting Oxygen from the Martian Atmosphere
In addition to its scientific objectives, the Perseverance rover will also be attempting to extract oxygen from the Martian atmosphere. This is an important step towards future human exploration of Mars, as it could provide a source of breathable air and rocket fuel. The rover will be testing a device called MOXIE (Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment) that will convert carbon dioxide from the Martian atmosphere into oxygen.
Carrying a Helicopter Drone
Finally, the Perseverance rover will be carrying a helicopter drone for scouting interesting targets. This is the first time that a drone has been included in a Mars mission, and it could provide a new perspective on the Martian environment. The drone will be able to fly up to a few hundred meters above the surface, allowing it to explore areas that are inaccessible to the rover.
In conclusion, the Perseverance rover mission to Mars 2020 is an incredibly exciting and ambitious project that could provide crucial insights into the history of Mars and the potential for life on the planet. With its suite of scientific instruments, the rover will be able to investigate an ancient environment, assess past habitability, search for biosignatures, extract oxygen from the Martian atmosphere, and carry a helicopter drone for scouting interesting targets. We can’t wait to see what discoveries this mission will uncover!
