NASA’s Perseverance Rover Launches to Mars

NASA’s Perseverance Rover began its long journey to Mars today by successfully launching from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on a ULA Atlas V rocket. It now begins its seven-month journey to the Red Planet, landing there on Feb. 18, 2021.

Perseverance will seek signs of ancient microbial life on Mars along with collecting samples for future return to Earth and demonstrating key technologies to help prepare for future robotic and human exploration.

Also flying with Perseverance is NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter, which will attempt to show controlled flight is possible in the very thin Martian atmosphere.

For more about Perseverance, visit

mars.nasa.gov/perseverance

For more about Ingenuity, visit

mars.nasa.gov/technology/helicopter/