Perseverance (Mars rover)

Perseverance is a Mars rover that landed on 18 February 2021 in Jezero Crater, a place that once held a lake and a river delta.

Its mission

Look for signs of ancient microbial life, study the climate and geology, and collect rock and soil samples in sealed tubes for a possible future return to Earth.

Design

It is similar in size and layout to Curiosity but with upgraded wheels, a better self-driving system, and a new sampling system. It also carried the Ingenuity helicopter, a technology demonstration.

Autonomy

Perseverance can drive itself over longer distances than earlier rovers by using cameras to spot hazards and plan a path. This reduces the number of days spent waiting for commands from Earth.

Why it matters

Collecting samples is the first step toward bringing Martian rock back for study in labs on Earth. It also tests the technology that future crewed missions will need.