Perseverance Rover

Mars · space exploration · rover · science

Launched in July 2020. Perseverance blasted off from Earth on an Atlas V rocket and traveled for about seven months before landing on Mars in February 2021.

Searches for ancient life. The rover explores Jezero Crater, a place where scientists think an ancient river once flowed, which could have left fossils or other signs that tiny creatures lived there billions of years ago.

Six wheels and cameras. Perseverance is about the size of a small car and has 19 cameras that help it take pictures, study rocks, and navigate across the Martian landscape.

Collects rock samples. The rover carefully gathers pieces of Martian rock in special containers so they can eventually be brought back to Earth for scientists to study up close.

Managed by NASA. Engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California control Perseverance from Earth, sending it commands and receiving all the photos and data it discovers.