The NASA Mars Exploration Program features the Perseverance rover, launched aboard an Atlas V launch vehicle to the Jezero crater on Mars. Perseverance's mission is multifaceted, involving the study of astrobiologically significant ancient Martian environments and the investigation of surface geological processes and history. This includes assessing past habitability, exploring the possibility of past life on Mars, and examining the potential for preserving biosignatures within accessible geological materials.
A remarkable aspect of Perseverance's mission is its plan to cache sample containers along its route, creating the possibility for future retrieval by a Mars sample-return mission. The rover is equipped with an impressive array of tools, including nineteen cameras and two microphones, enabling it to capture detailed images and audio recordings of the Martian environment, enriching our understanding of the Red Planet.
