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The Perseverance spacecraft, sent to Mars by NASA to solve the mysteries of the Red Planet, has completed its landing on the Martian surface. The whole world followed these moments live.
Hello World. My first look at my forever home. #CountdownToMars pic.twitter.com/dkM9jE9I6X
– NASA’s Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) February 18, 2021
The first photo came from Mars
The first message of perseverance on social networks and the first photo of Mars.
“Hello world. My first look at my eternal home”
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To see here click on
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So how did the rover’s journey to Mars start, how did it travel, and what will it do there?
Here are the answers…
The Perseverance rover was launched from Cape Canaveral, known as the space beach in Florida, on July 30, 2020.
This date was a conscious choice. Because Earth and Mars travel around the Sun’s orbit at different speeds and distances, they reach the most efficient proximity and position for one trip approximately every 26 months.
The launch took place with an Atlas V-541 rocket from Launch Complex 41. Atlas V is one of the largest rockets available for interplanetary flight.
Traveled 480 million kilometers
The spacecraft left Earth at a speed of about 39,600 kilometers per hour.
The first fine-tuning of the flight path to Perseverance occurred approximately 15 days after launch, and the destination location was adjusted to the Red Planet with a correction maneuver.
Maneuvers on the way to Mars were critical because planning was set to land inside Jezero crater.
The last 45 days before landing the approach phase has been completed. At this stage, navigation, landing planning and descent adjustments were made.
The trip to Mars took about seven months and 480 million kilometers.
7 minutes of terror
When the rover descends, it will plunge into the thin atmosphere of Mars at a speed of about 20,000 kilometers per hour.
At about 11 km up, the parachute opened and Perseverance separated from the heat shield. With the activation of the pushers, the vehicle slowed to three-quarters of a meter per second.
The landing took a total of 7 minutes. These drops are known as ‘7 minutes of horror’ in the scientific world.
After landing, Jezero, 45 kilometers wide just north of the Martian equator, will become Perseverance’s new home.
The reason the landing direction is this crater is the belief that the answer to the question “Was there life on Mars?” Perseverance tried to answer is hidden here.
Scientists believe that remains of ancient microbial life can be found here.
Only 40 percent of missions were successful
Landing on Mars is quite difficult. Only 40 percent of the missions sent to Mars by any space agency were successful.
Perseverance is the fifth NASA rover to attempt to land on Mars.
With the successful landing, the rover mission will last one year on Mars, 687 Earth days.
Perseverance has a teammate accompanying him on Mars. The Ingenuity helicopter will try to fly and explore Mars.
Helicopters will also have the advantage of being able to fly over dangerous terrain like steep hills or craters that mobile robots cannot reach.
The rocks will be examined
Mars was like Earth billions of years ago; It is estimated to have a strong atmosphere and oceans.
The traveler Perseverance will try to find the traces of these periods by investigating the past of the Red Planet.
In particular, it will be analyzed whether rocks formed in water or modified by water contain organic molecules, which are chemical building blocks based on carbon.
In addition, the ability to generate oxygen from Mars’ carbon dioxide atmosphere will be tested to support future human missions.
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