Mars Rover Perseverance
Successfully Lands, to Collect Signs of Ancient Life.
NASA's Perseverance landed
on the red planet in the
Jezero Crater just before
4 p.m. EST on Feb. 18.
Scientists believe the crater may have once been
a "possible oasis in [the planet's] distant past.".
Between 3 billion and 4 billion years ago, a river there flowed into a body of water the size of Lake Tahoe, depositing sediments packed with carbonite minerals and clay, NASA Press Release, via 'People'.
This was the first time in the history of the human race that a Mars landing was captured on video.
The video is expected to be available
to view on Feb. 19.
NASA also shared the
first image sent back by Perseverance. .
On board Perseverance
is Ingenuity, a
miniature helicopter.
If all goes as planned, Ingenuity will
be the first craft of its kind to travel
on another planet.
Perseverance's mission is slated
for one Mars year, which equates
to just over two Earth years.
The craft will collect soil and rock samples
from the surface of Mars, which scientists
hope will provide evidence of ancient Martian life