NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover

[Beati Dogu]

NASA’s "Perseverance" Mars rover is due to launch today

Also known as the Mars 2020 mission. The Perseverance rover is very similar to the existing Curiosity rover, but with improvements to the wheels and a different suit of experiments onboard. It also carries the experimental Mars Helicopter "Ingenuity" (seen below, in front of the rover).




It'll launch on an Atlas V rocket from SLC-41 at Cape Canaveral.

Launch window: 12.50 pm - 2.50 pm UK time (7:50-9:50 a.m. EDT)

They're expected to reach Mars next February & land in the Jezero Crater, which is believed to be an ancient lake bed.


NASA Launch coverage:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIB3JbIIbPU

[Ructions]

T minus 10 minutes https://twitter.com/NASA

[gr1340]

My children’s names should be two of the 1.4 million included on the rover.

[Beati Dogu]

Yes, my name is on it too.

[generationx]

This multi-mission is truly exciting in its ambition. I'll be following the (lengthy) progress with interest.

[geeks]

https://mars.nasa.gov/technology/helicopter/

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/6-things-to-know-...

So cool that we will attempt powered flight on Mars!

[Beati Dogu]

Well it's on its way now. Nice launch from ULA.



Photo: ULA



Photo: John Kraus

Edited by Beati Dogu on Thursday 30th July 20:37

[GTO-3R]

Good website here to keep track of it (and other satellites)

https://eyes.nasa.gov/apps/orrery/#/earth?range=fa...

[funkyrobot]

16 days until landing. Cant wait!

[Leithen]

According to the Beeb ( https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-561...) timings are;

Contact with atmosphere: 20:48 GMT
Parachute deployed: 20:52 GMT
Powered descent: 20:54 GMT
Wheels down: 20:55 GMT

[MartG]

[MiniMan64]

Such a shame there’s never video of the landing, must look spectacular from the surface!

Also can’t wait to see how the drone works!

[Eric Mc]

They don't really have the capability to show live video during the landings. They need all the bandwith they've got for telemetry and other stuff.

[Beati Dogu]

He's a NASA preview video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4tdMR5HLtg

[Blackpuddin]

What happens to the Sky Crane once it's dropped the rover? Video I just watched on the Beeb suggests it flies off again, but where to?

[hyphen]

Beati Dogu said:

Yes, my name is on it too.

gr1340 said:

My children’s names should be two of the 1.4 million included on the rover.

When the Martians arrive on Earth, they will come with a hit list of 1.4m humans.

[MartG]

Blackpuddin said:

What happens to the Sky Crane once it's dropped the rover? Video I just watched on the Beeb suggests it flies off again, but where to?

'A safe distance' from the lander, then it crashes

[Beati Dogu]

Blackpuddin said:

What happens to the Sky Crane once it's dropped the rover? Video I just watched on the Beeb suggests it flies off again, but where to?

It flies off and crashes.

Edit: Here's a satellite view from NASA/JPL-Caltech showing the area around the Curiosity rover soon after landing.

Edited by Beati Dogu on Thursday 18th February 17:22

[Leithen]

MartG said:

Blackpuddin said:

What happens to the Sky Crane once it's dropped the rover? Video I just watched on the Beeb suggests it flies off again, but where to?

'A safe distance' from the lander, then it crashes

Just far enough away for Matt Damon to find it in the future.

[Blackpuddin]

MartG said:

Blackpuddin said:

What happens to the Sky Crane once it's dropped the rover? Video I just watched on the Beeb suggests it flies off again, but where to?

'A safe distance' from the lander, then it crashes

Hope it doesn't just go straight up until it runs out of juice.