Mars 2020

Mars 2020
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Name	Mars 2020
Mission type	Rover
Operator	NASA / JPL
COSPAR ID	2020-052A
SATCAT	45983
Mission duration	Planned: 1 Mars year (~687 Earth days), Elapsed: 2021, 2, 18 years
Spacecraft	Perseverance
Manufacturer	Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Launch mass	1,025 kg (rover)
Landing mass	899 kg
Power	110 watts (MMRTG)
Launch date	July 30, 2020, 11:50 UTC
Launch rocket	Atlas V 541
Launch site	Cape Canaveral SLC-41
Arrival date	February 18, 2021, 20:55 UTC
Landing site	Jezero crater, Mars
Programme	Mars Exploration Program
Previous mission	InSight
Next mission	Mars Sample Return

Mars 2020 is a NASA Mars exploration mission that successfully landed the Perseverance rover in Jezero crater on February 18, 2021. The mission's primary goals are to search for signs of ancient microbial life, characterize the planet's geology and past climate, and collect and cache rock and soil samples for a potential future return to Earth. Managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the mission builds upon the legacy of previous rovers like Curiosity and Opportunity.

Overview

The mission launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket on July 30, 2020. After a seven-month cruise, the spacecraft performed a complex entry, descent, and landing sequence, utilizing a sky crane system similar to that of the Curiosity rover. The successful touchdown in Jezero crater marked a major achievement for NASA and its international partners, including contributions from the European Space Agency and the Centre National d'Études Spatiales.

Mission objectives

The core objectives are defined by the Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group and focus on astrobiology. A key goal is to assess the ancient habitability of the landing site and identify biosignatures within select rock and regolith samples. The mission also aims to demonstrate new technologies for future robotic and human exploration, such as producing oxygen from the Martian atmosphere via the MOXIE experiment. Furthermore, it is tasked with meticulously documenting the geological context of the collected samples to inform future scientific study.

Spacecraft design

The Perseverance rover's design is heavily based on its predecessor, the Curiosity rover, creating significant cost and risk savings. Major enhancements include a more robust wheel design, upgraded autonomous driving software, and a sophisticated sample caching system. The descent stage incorporated new terrain-relative navigation technology, guided by the Lander Vision System, to avoid hazards during landing. The rover is powered by a Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator provided by the United States Department of Energy.

Scientific instruments

The rover carries seven primary instruments. SHERLOC and PIXL are mounted on the turret to map mineralogy and elemental composition at a fine scale. The SuperCam uses a laser to vaporize rock and analyze the resulting plasma. The Mastcam-Z provides panoramic and stereoscopic imaging, while the MEDA suite monitors weather and dust. The RIMFAX ground-penetrating radar probes subsurface geology, and the MOXIE technology demonstration generates oxygen from atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Landing site

Jezero crater was selected after an extensive review process led by scientists from institutions like Brown University and Purdue University. This site was chosen because orbital data from missions like the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter indicated a clear ancient river delta and lakebed, environments considered highly conducive to preserving signs of past life. The diverse geology, including carbonate minerals and clastic sediments, offers a rich record of Mars's aqueous history.

Mission timeline

Following its February 2021 landing, the rover began initial systems checks and deployed the Ingenuity helicopter, which performed the first powered, controlled flight on another planet. The first science campaign focused on the crater floor before Perseverance traveled to the delta remnant. Key milestones have included collecting the first core sample in September 2021 and depositing backup sample tubes on the surface in late 2022 as part of the Mars Sample Return program architecture. The mission continues to explore the margins of Jezero crater.

Discoveries and results

Early findings confirmed that Jezero crater once held a lake that experienced significant flooding. Instruments have identified a variety of igneous and sedimentary rocks, including Olivine-rich formations and rocks altered by water. The MOXIE experiment has successfully produced oxygen on multiple occasions, proving a critical technology for future human missions. Analysis by SHERLOC and PIXL has detected organic molecules in multiple rock units, though their biological origin remains undetermined, highlighting the need for sample return.

Category:Mars spacecraft Category:NASA missions Category:2020 in spaceflight Category:Rovers on Mars