NASA has finally revealed the Mars 2020 mission that will be used for carrying the next rover to our closest neighbor in 2020. It will be equipped with brand new technology and instruments that will facilitate the collection of data and the research done by the specialists. That will be the fifth NASA rover to land on Mars
The four rovers that touched down on Mars
The first one was dubbed “Sojourner, the Mars Pathfinder,” and it first touched the red surface of Mars on July 4, back in 1997. Two months after landing, communications were lost.
On January 4, 2004, the second one managed to land successfully, and although it was first planned to operate for a short period, communications didn’t stop until March 22, 2010.
Few weeks after the launch of the second satellite, Opportunity was also launched on 25 January 2004, and it kept transmitting for 15 years in a row. The last one, dubbed ‘Curiosity’ touched the Martian surface on August 6, 2012, and it is still transmitting data back to earth.
The Mars 2020 rover will be able to deliver precious information to our scientists
Each one of the robots was equipped with different tools and had various features and gave them the ability to carry out different research. The rover that is yet to be launched is expected to be fully operational for at least 687 earthling days, which is the equivalent to one Martian year, and will have the necessary tool to be able to dig and drill so that it can collect rocks and soil to be examined.
Although the samples collected are not intended to be brought back to our planet anytime soon, NASA suggests that these might be carried to Earth should technological progress allow it.
In order to transfer the rover to Mars, Mars 2020 spacecraft will be used. It will be protected through launching and landing by an aero-shell. In order to get relevant information concerning its size, a replica rover has been used, since the original one is still under construction.
