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In 1969, when Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon and then said at the Houston Control Center the phrase “One small step for man, one great leap for humanity”, no one imagined that 52 years later space The technology would take another leap and allow us to see in real time the landing of Mars 2020 Perseverance in Mars.
A preview of what’s to come in just a couple of hours. Once this part is behind me, I can finally get to work. I can not wait. #CountdownToMars pic.twitter.com/KDrOzNFats
– NASA’s Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) February 18, 2021
The landing process of the robotic laboratory ship began yesterday a few minutes before 11 p.m. Greek time and lasted – according to the schedule – 7 minutes. “The 7 minutes of horror”, as their scientists call them POT. The mission of the ship, in addition to the investigation that it will carry out, will look for evidence that demonstrates or not that life once existed on the “red planet”.
At 10:55 GMT, the robotic spacecraft landed on Mars. Scientists immediately settled at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California burst into applause.
TOUCHDOWN: NASA’s Perseverance rover successfully lands on the surface of Mars.
Presented by @AdobeDocCloud.https: //t.co/IOTdcyTAe9 #CountdowntoMars pic.twitter.com/NkTJ6AJWRu
– ABC News (@ABC) February 18, 2021
A few seconds later, they received the first signal that the landing was successful and immediately afterwards the first image of the surface of the Red Planet appeared in the Jezero Crater.
The first image sent by Perseverance from the surface of Mars
These photos were taken by cameras attached to the spacecraft and are in black and white.
Later, the images from the rover will be much more impressive.
The new photos will also help mission personnel pinpoint exactly where they are on the landing area.
And another look behind me. Welcome to Jezero crater. #CountdownToMars pic.twitter.com/dbU3dhm6VZ
– NASA’s Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) February 18, 2021
Yet these images are exactly what the mission scientists wanted to see, showing the rocky surface of the Jezero crater on Mars. Mission scientists chose the location because they believe that when the Red Planet was still covered in water, the crater was once a lake, with a river delta depositing sediment on its surface.
Where I am now? Check out this interactive map to zoom in and explore my landing site: https: //t.co/uPsKFhW17J
And for the ground level view, my first images are here, with many more in the coming days: https: //t.co/Ex1QDo3eC2 pic.twitter.com/B6TJTikAyX
– NASA’s Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) February 19, 2021
By studying these rocks, scientists hope they will allow them to better understand the planet and the possibility of discovering traces of life.
The seven minutes of horror
The seven minutes, which … took our entire planet’s breath away, were when Perseverance “penetrated” the atmosphere of the “red planet”, until it successfully landed in the Jezero crater to continue its all-important mission, through which will take a decisive step in the preparation of the manned mission planned by the POT for the next few years.
NASA, proud of the great achievement, broadcasts the entire process live, keeping interest high:
The landing was also attended by the new planetary leader, Joe Biden, who sent his own message.
Congratulations to NASA and to all of those whose hard work made the historic Perseverance landing possible. Today he demonstrated once again that with the power of American science and ingenuity, nothing is beyond what is possible. pic.twitter.com/NzSxW6nw4k
– President Biden (@POTUS) February 18, 2021
“Congratulations to NASA and to all who worked hard to make the historic Perseverance landing possible.” Today it has been demonstrated once again that with the power of American science and ingenuity, nothing is beyond the realm of probability. ” wrote the president of the United States on Twitter.
The journey to the red planet
As part of the “Mars 2020” mission, the “Perseverance” spacecraft began its journey on July 30, 2020, traveling 471 million kilometers.
When NASA scientists received the signal that it landed, it took “seven minutes of horror” to ensure that the rover, which made a seven-month space journey of 470 million kilometers, landed safely on the surface of Mars.
That’s all. I am entering the top of the atmosphere of Mars. Without looking back. Seven minutes to landing. #CountdownToMars pic.twitter.com/q4LcKcPfpr
– NASA’s Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) February 18, 2021
The spacecraft will search for traces of microbial life on the Red Planet and study its geological makeup.
The SUV-sized “Perseverance” six-wheeled rover, also known by the nickname “Percy,” is slightly larger and heavier than the “Curiosity” rover that it studies to date on Mars.
It has more advanced scientific instruments, capable of more ambitious experiments, being the most advanced astrobiology laboratory ever sent to another celestial body. With your tools, you will collect Martian specimens, which will be returned on Earth with a future mission, which, if it happens, will be a world first.
The “7 minutes of terror” until landing
The possible course that will follow
Perseverance will descend into the “Jezero” crater, once an ancient lake and river delta and where life forms are considered most likely to have existed. billions of years ago, when Mars was warmer, more humid and probably welcoming to life.
Among other things, the rover has an experimental device that will convert carbon dioxide in the Martian atmosphere into pure oxygen, as well as a mini weather station, 19 cameras and two microphones that will record the first Martian sounds.
The rover will also launch “Ingenuity”, a small robotic helicopter weighing 1.8 kg, the first in history to fly to another world.
The Perseverance six-wheeler robotic vehicle will focus on finding water and other elements of life beneath the planet’s surface. It will also collect and store rock samples that are expected to travel on Earth for the next 10 years with joint American and European missions.
Next to technologies will be tested to help pave the way for future human exploration of Mars.
The “perseverance” is designed to successfully cope with the adverse conditions on its surface. inhospitable red planet.
It looks a lot like Curiosity, but it has a lot of new features, says Matt Wallace, the program’s director.
Among other things, it is equipped with a powerful computer, which will help you navigate the surface avoiding dangerous areas. The Perseverance robotic vehicle is the fifth NASA has sent to the planet.
Until 1997, all the NASA spacecraft that reached its surface were static. In 1997, however, the “Pathfinder” mission brought the great revolution: a robot with wheels, which could move on the rugged surface of the planet.
The “Sojourner”, as he was called, two other robotic vehicles followed, Spirit and “Opportunity”, which reached the surface of Mars in 2004, while “Curiosity”, which was the size of a car, reached its destination in 2012.
The landing point
Scientists expect great interest of the experiences you will collect and a little “passenger” carried by NASA’s perseverance: Ingenio, the first helicopter on Mars.
This tiny helicopter, which weighs about 1.8 kilograms on Earth, will be the first flying vehicle to attempt a controlled flight to another planet.
Too wit
As the conditions are completely different, any prediction of the success or failure of this mission is considered risky.
However, it is estimated that these test flights will likely pave the way for future manned missions with astronauts traveling to Mars and returning to Earth, either in the near or distant future.
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