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As part of its mission, the rover would characterize the Red Planet’s past geology and climate, and pave the way for human exploration of Mars.
NASA’s Perseverance Mars 2020 rover has made its first trip to Mars, covering 21.3 feet (6.5 meters) across the Martian landscape. The unit served as a mobility test marking just one of many milestones as team members review and calibrate every system, subsystem and instrument in Perseverance. Once the rover begins to pursue its scientific objectives, regular drifts of 656 feet (200 meters) or more are expected.
Anais Zarifian, 2020 Mars Perseverance rover mobility testbed engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, said: the first time they live up to the importance of the first trip. This was our first chance to ‘kick the tires’ and take Perseverance for a spin. The rover’s six-wheel drive responded excellently. We are now confident that our propulsion system is ready to go, capable of taking us where science takes us for the next two years. “
The journey, which lasted approximately 33 minutes, propelled the rover forward 13 feet (4 meters), where it then turned 150 degrees to the left and backed 8 feet (2.5 meters) into its new temporary parking space. To help better understand the dynamics of a retro rocket landing on the red planet, engineers used Perseverance’s navigation and hazard prevention cameras to image where Perseverance landed, dispersing Martian dust with columns from its engines.
Robert Hogg, deputy director of mission for the Perseverance Mars 2020 rover, added: “The first test of the robotic arm was a great moment for us. That is the main tool that the science team will use to do a close-up examination of the geological features of the Jezero crater, and then we will drill and test the ones they find most interesting. When we got confirmation of the robotic arm flexing its muscles, including pictures of how it worked wonderfully after its long trip to Mars, well, it made my day. “
Since landing on Mars on February 18, the rover has undergone several routine checks, including a software update, replacing the computer program that helped Perseverance land with one that NASA will rely on to analyze the planet. .
Meanwhile, the space agency said the rover continues to send images from Mars using the most advanced camera suite to travel to the Red Planet.
Justin Maki, Chief Imaging Engineer and Imaging Scientist for the Perseverance Mars 2020 rover mission at JPL, said: “ Every image of Perseverance is transmitted by the European Space Agency or MAVEN Tracking Gas Orbiter, Mars Odyssey. or NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance. Orbiter. They are important partners in our explorations and discoveries. “
