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MARS
NASA’s latest rover brings us ever closer to setting foot on Mars.
A CLOSER LOOK AT
A Almost 60 years of NASA missions to Mars lmost 60 years of NASA missions to Mars
have brought us within view of people actu-
have brought us within view of people actu-
ally setting foot on the planet to see what ally setting foot on the planet to see what
our nearby red neighbor looks like up close and in our nearby red neighbor looks like up close and in
person. From fly-bys to satellites to landers and person. From fly-bys to satellites to landers and
rovers, generations of engineers have designed rovers, generations of engineers have designed
and created an amazing series of tools and tech-
and created an amazing series of tools and tech-
nologies that have brought Mars’s past and pres-
nologies that have brought Mars’s past and pres-
ent to life in front of our very eyes. ent to life in front of our very eyes.
The earliest missions helped us map the planet The earliest missions helped us map the planet
and track its weather. Landing increasingly sophis-
and track its weather. Landing increasingly sophis-
ticated scientific instruments on the surface has ticated scientific instruments on the surface has
taught us about the history and chemical composi-
taught us about the history and chemical composi-
tion of the Martian rocks and sand both above and tion of the Martian rocks and sand both above and
below ground. below ground.
The latest mission — landing the Perseverance The latest mission — landing the Perseverance
rover in an ancient lakebed — marks an incredible rover in an ancient lakebed — marks an incredible
leap towards figuring out how to make human ex- leap towards figuring out how to make human ex-
ploration of Mars a reality. Depositing Persever- ploration of Mars a reality. Depositing Persever-
ance in this ancient lakebed, the Jezero Crater, ance in this ancient lakebed, the Jezero Crater,
was like programming and propelling a dart to go was like programming and propelling a dart to go
from Washington, DC, to a bull’s-eye in Dallas. from Washington, DC, to a bull’s-eye in Dallas.
Perseverance is about the size of a small car, Perseverance is about the size of a small car,
and since landing in early 2021, it has traveled and since landing in early 2021, it has traveled
features
COURTESY NASA
over 12 miles from where it touched down. The over 12 miles from where it touched down. The
rover is conducting a continuous series of experi-
rover is conducting a continuous series of experi-
ments — taking subsurface geological samples ments — taking subsurface geological samples
to look for signs of life, seeking evidence of water, to look for signs of life, seeking evidence of water,
and testing methods for producing oxygen on and testing methods for producing oxygen on
the surface that people might one day be able the surface that people might one day be able
to breathe. to breathe.
All the while, it is transmitting enormous vol-
All the while, it is transmitting enormous vol-
umes of data back to Earth that have given us the umes of data back to Earth that have given us the
most colorful, fine-grained view of the Martian most colorful, fine-grained view of the Martian
landscape that we have ever seen. And Persever- landscape that we have ever seen. And Persever-
ance also brought a small helicopter to Mars, ance also brought a small helicopter to Mars,
which it has launched and landed more than 50 which it has launched and landed more than 50
times on its winding path in and around the crater. times on its winding path in and around the crater.
Every new mission to Mars has allowed us to Every new mission to Mars has allowed us to
see more widely and deeply into the planet’s his-
see more widely and deeply into the planet’s his-
tory and current circumstances. Perseverance has tory and current circumstances. Perseverance has
brought us closer than ever to seeing the planet brought us closer than ever to seeing the planet
with our own eyes. It is almost a sure thing that with our own eyes. It is almost a sure thing that
among the engineering and science majors of among the engineering and science majors of
today are the first people who will set foot on today are the first people who will set foot on
Mars one upcoming tomorrow. Mars one upcoming tomorrow.