Who else has been following NASA’s Perseverance rover’s journey to Mars? Isn’t it fascinating that we’re exploring an entirely new planet in such detail? The rover’s main mission is to seek signs of ancient life and collect samples of rock and regolith (broken rock and soil) for possible return to Earth.
The touchdown on the Jezero Crater, an area believed to have once been flooded with water and which may contain evidence of some form of life, really got me excited. This entire mission has been an audacious feat of engineering and science, and a testimony to human curiosity and desire to explore.
Additionally, the helicopter drone Ingenuity onboard Perseverance, is set to perform a series of flight tests for a month. If successful, the information could aid in planning routes for future Mars rovers and even astronauts, and possibly scouting for promising locations to study.
Our understanding of Mars and its potential for hosting life either now or in the past could take a massive leap forward thanks to Perseverance. What are your thoughts? I’d love to hear some different perspectives on this. Beyond the science and potential for discovery, what does this mission mean to you?
