Nasa/JPL-Caltech
New ideas will be key to making the mission happen after a report criticised its timescale and cost.
The equipment planned to help bring samples back from Mars.
NASA/JPL
It’s not easy to collect rocks on a budget when the rocks are 140 million miles away.
The surface of Mars is cold, dry and rocky.
NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU
Determining whether or not life exists on another planet is an extraordinarily complicated – and expensive – scientific endeavor.
The Ingenuity helicopter on Mars.
NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS
Among the missions being planned is a huge helicopter drone to explore Saturn’s moon Titan.
Concept illustration for research robots that could bring samples of Mars rocks to Earth-based labs.
(NASA/JPL-Caltech)
Sophisticated equipment on the Perseverance rover is helping answer some of the many questions researchers have about Mars’ geology over time.
Rovers on Mars frequently come across debris – like this heat shield and spring – from their own or other missions.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
Discarded pieces of landing gear, crashed spacecraft and wear and tear have produced a lot of debris that is now scattered around the Martian surface.
An artist’s concept of an astronaut walking on Mars. But what would happen if the astronaut weren’t wearing a space helmet?
cokada/E+ via Getty Images
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and one of our closest neighbors in space. But it’s not a very welcoming place for an Earthling to visit.
Perseverance took a selfie next to its biggest accomplishment yet – the two small drill holes where the rover took samples of Martian rocks.
NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
Perseverance and its helicopter sidekick, Ingenuity, have been on Mars for nearly nine months. The duo have taken rock samples, performed first flights and taken images of the delta in Jezero Crater.
NASA/AP
Flying the Ingenuity helicopter on Mars is the equivalent of flying one at about 100,000 feet on Earth. Tricky, considering the highest helicopter flight ever recorded maxed out at 42,000 feet.
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Named after a village in Bosnia and Herzegovina, NASA’s Martian landing spot is a distant reminder of less peaceful times on Earth.
NASA
NASA’s successful Mars landing will reveal yet more secrets from the red planet. But there is much we already know from Martian fragments that found their way to Earth.
Perseverance in action.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
Methane gas in the atmosphere is a tantalising hint suggesting that life could exists on Mars.
The red planet.
Nasa
There are some great opportunities to see the planet travelling across the night skies.
Artist impression of Mars Insight.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
The Perseverance rover’s landing could help reveal secrets of Mars’ interior.
Landing on Mars is extremely difficult.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
Scientists preparing to land the Rosalind Franklin rover in a few years are nervously awaiting the landing of Nasa’s Perseverance rover.
Three missions – from the UAE, China and the US – will arrive at Mars in Feburary.
Limbitech via Shutterstock
Transcript for Episode 1 of The Conversation Weekly podcast, including stories on Mars and Belarus.
The Perseverance Rover’s first image sent back to NASA from Mars shows the surface of the Jezero crater.
NASA/JPL
NASA’s Mars 2020 mission has arrived and landed the Perseverance Rover on the red planet. The rover’s goal is to collect rock and soil samples to be brought back to Earth in the future.