An Inside Look at the Mars 2020 Rover
Even if you’re not all that enthused by the generalities of space travel, it’s hard to not feel a sense of excitement in regard to the Mars 2020 Rover. After all, if it accomplishes what it’s set out to do, it could change the course of human history in a way that’s unprecedented.
If you’re not exactly the type of person who keeps up with the latest news in space travel, we’re here to help. We’re going to explain exactly what the Mars 2020 Rover is, what its purpose is and how it can impact humanity as we know it. By the end of this article, you’ll probably feel pretty excited about what the future holds.
What is the Mars 2020 Rover?
The Mars 2020 Rover is the latest rover to be developed by NASA’s Mars Exploration Program. A rover is a space exploration vehicle that contains many robotic parts and can easily and freely explore the surface of a space body, which is, in this case, Mars. In addition to its mechanical parts that aid in travel, it contains many mechanisms that are designed to pick up samples, take pictures and record other types of data.
This particular rover will be launched in June of 2020. The landing system that was designed improves upon the earlier Mars rover models. Between the development, construction and mission of the Mars 2020 Rover, the entire cost is $2 billion.
What Purpose Does It Serve?
The aim of the Mars 2020 Rover is to determine whether or not Mars is an inhabitable planet on which humans can one day live. It’s specially designed to collect samples and record data that can be sent back to NASA specialists so that it can be analyzed. What these specialists find will determine whether or not the planet is, in fact, inhabitable.
The reason why Mars is the destination is because its atmosphere is closest to that of our own planet. Recently, data collected from Mars demonstrated that this planet may be more inhabitable than we previously thought. Possible signs of life were picked up in some recordings. And, knowing what we do about its weather patterns and minerals in its dust, it’s highly possible that humans could adapt to its environment.
What’re Its Goals?
The Mars 2020 Rover is expected to touch down on Mars in February of 2021. During this time, it will be collecting specific pieces of data relating to the planet’s atmosphere. Samples of its dust are most desirable as this can determine key information regarding its unique mineral makeup. Additionally, cameras will be recording its terrain while other instruments will be recording the planet’s weather patterns. Another goal is to determine whether or not there has ever been life on Mars.
What Can We Expect?
The Mars 2020 Rover is just the latest exploration vehicle constructed solely for exploring the possibility of human inhabitance on the planet. Regardless of this rover’s findings, it’s pretty clear that NASA is going to continue keeping this planet as their top priority for the next decade. Still, this rover seems more equipped than previous models to handle the job and follow through on its objectives.
A Big Task Ahead
The Mars 2020 Rover has a pretty big task ahead of it, but NASA is pretty certain that it will successfully provide us with crucial information regarding the big red planet.