NASA’s Perseverance Rover has successfully landed on Mars after a seven-month journey and “seven minutes of terror” during landing.
The seven-month, 300-million-mile journey concluded on Thursday when the Perseverance endured “seven minutes of terror.” This saying refers to the amount of time it takes to fly through the thin atmosphere of Mars. The spacecraft had to do this autonomously due to the 11-minute lag time in communications with Earth.
During that time, the rover slowed itself from 12,000 miles per hour to about 2 miles per hour using thrusters and a parachute. From there, the spacecraft was lowered onto the Martian surface using cables. It landed in the Jezero crater, which scientists believe was once a flooded river delta.
While on Mars, the rover will collect soil samples into tubes that will then sit on the planet’s surface until a collection mission can be executed to retrieve them. Cameras and microphones attached to the spacecraft will allow researchers to see and hear what happens on Mars as they search for signs of life.
NASA will also attempt to fly a small helicopter called Ingenuity on the planet. This helicopter was taken onto Mars with the rover and will become the first human-made vehicle to fly on another planet. Also, NASA will also attempt to demonstrate how to turn carbon dioxide in the planet’s atmosphere into oxygen so that human life may one day be supported on Mars.
