Mars rovers

NASA Perseverance Mars Rover to Acquire First Sample

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, July 21, 2021
Spaceflight, Outer space, Discovery and exploration of the Solar System, Mars rovers, Mars, Perseverance, Jezero, Rover, Sample-return mission, NASA, Outline of Mars, Octavia E. Butler Landing

WASHINGTON, July 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA is making final preparations for its Perseverance Mars rover to collect its first-ever sample of Martian rock, which future planned missions will transport to Earth.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, July 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA is making final preparations for its Perseverance Mars rover to collect its first-ever sample of Martian rock, which future planned missions will transport to Earth.
  • "I have every expectation that Perseverance's first sample from Jezero Crater, and those that come after, will do the same for Mars.
  • The Mars 2020 Perseverance mission is the first step in NASA's Mars Sample Return Campaign.
  • The Mars 2020 Perseverance mission is part of NASA's Moon to Mars exploration approach, which includes Artemis missions to the Moon that will help prepare for human exploration of the Red Planet.

NASA to Brief Early Science from Perseverance Mars Rover

Retrieved on: 
Friday, July 16, 2021
Spaceflight, Outer space, Spacecraft, Mars rovers, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Perseverance, Exploration of Mars, Mars, Rover, NASA, Planetary Instrument for X-Ray Lithochemistry, Mars sample-return mission

WASHINGTON, July 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --NASA will hold a virtual media briefing at 1 p.m. EDT Wednesday, July 21, to discuss early science results from the agency's Perseverance Mars rover and its preparations to collect the first-ever Martian samples for planned return to Earth.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, July 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --NASA will hold a virtual media briefing at 1 p.m. EDT Wednesday, July 21, to discuss early science results from the agency's Perseverance Mars rover and its preparations to collect the first-ever Martian samples for planned return to Earth.
  • The briefing will originate from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, where the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover mission is managed.
  • It will air live on NASA Television, the NASA app , and the agency's website and livestream on multiple agency social media platforms, including JPL's YouTube and Facebook channels.
  • The Mars 2020 Perseverance mission is part of NASA's Moon to Mars exploration approach, which includes Artemis missions to the Moon that will help prepare for human exploration of the Red Planet.

Miniature Linear Stage on Mars Rover Helps Provide Precision Focus Control for SuperCam

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, June 3, 2021
Spaceflight, Mars rovers, Spacecraft, Exploration of Mars, Transducers, Mars Exploration Program, Electrical phenomena, Energy conversion, Piezoelectricity, Mars, Perseverance, Commercial off-the-shelf

AUBURN, Mass., June 3, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ --Precision motion control and nano-positioning industry leader, PI , plays a key role in distance targeting of geological samples for testing by the Mars rover, Perseverance.

Key Points: 
  • AUBURN, Mass., June 3, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ --Precision motion control and nano-positioning industry leader, PI , plays a key role in distance targeting of geological samples for testing by the Mars rover, Perseverance.
  • This is the second time PI precision motion equipment has traveled the long distance to our neighboring planet.
  • The rover, Curiosity, has relied on PI's patented PICMA piezoelectric transducers and an another motorized focusing stage since first landing in 2012.
  • This specialized variant of the commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) stage passed all preflight tests and validated the cost-containment strategy of leveraging COTS designs.

NASA Statement on China's Zhurong Mars Rover Photos

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, May 19, 2021
Spaceflight, Spacecraft, Mars rovers, Robots, Mars Exploration Program, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Mars, Curiosity, Perseverance, Rover, Tianwen-1, Outline of Mars

b'WASHINGTON, May 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --NASA Administrator Sen. Bill Nelson issued the following statement Wednesday after the China National Space Administration\'s release of the first photos from the Zhurong Mars rover:\n"Congratulations to the China National Space Administration on receiving the first images from the Zhurong Mars rover!"

Key Points: 
  • b'WASHINGTON, May 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --NASA Administrator Sen. Bill Nelson issued the following statement Wednesday after the China National Space Administration\'s release of the first photos from the Zhurong Mars rover:\n"Congratulations to the China National Space Administration on receiving the first images from the Zhurong Mars rover!"
  • I look forward to future international discoveries, which will help inform and develop the capabilities needed to land human boots on Mars.
  • "\nCNSA\'s successful landing of the Zhurong rover last week makes it only the second nation to ever land successfully on Mars.
  • Zhurong joins active NASA missions the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers and Insight Lander in exploring the surface of the Red Planet.\nFor more information on NASA and agency activities, visit:\nView original content to download multimedia: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-statement-on-chinas-zhurong...\n'

NASA to Attempt First Controlled Flight on Mars As Soon As Monday

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, April 17, 2021
United States, Spaceflight, Spacecraft, Discovery and exploration of the Solar System, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Mars rovers, Perseverance, Ingenuity, Mars, NASA, MiMi Aung

b"WASHINGTON, April 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --NASA is targeting no earlier than Monday, April 19, for the first flight of its Ingenuity Mars Helicopter at approximately 3:30 a.m. EDT (12:30 a.m. PDT).\nData from the first flight will return to Earth a few hours following the autonomous flight.

Key Points: 
  • b"WASHINGTON, April 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --NASA is targeting no earlier than Monday, April 19, for the first flight of its Ingenuity Mars Helicopter at approximately 3:30 a.m. EDT (12:30 a.m. PDT).\nData from the first flight will return to Earth a few hours following the autonomous flight.
  • A livestream will begin at 6:15 a.m. EDT (3:15 a.m. PDT), as the helicopter team prepares to receive the data downlink in the Space Flight Operations Facility at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).
  • Due to operational schedules, limited interview opportunities will be available to media before the Monday flight.
  • JPL, managed for NASA by Caltech in Pasadena, California, built and manages operations for Ingenuity and the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover.\nFollow Ingenuity via the @NASA , @NASAJPL , and @NASAMars Twitter accounts; NASA and NASAPersevere Facebook accounts; and NASA Instagram account.\nAn Ingenuity press kit is available at:\nView original content to download multimedia: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-to-attempt-first-controlled...\n"

NASA Announces Winners of 2021 Human Exploration Rover Challenge

Retrieved on: 
Friday, April 16, 2021
Spaceflight, NASA, Rover, Outer space, Mars rovers, Exploration of the Moon

b'HUNTSVILLE, Ala., April 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- High school and college students from around the U.S. and world have spent the last eight months designing, building, and testing their creations for NASA\'s 27th annual Human Exploration Rover Challenge one of seven NASA Artemis Student Challenges.

Key Points: 
  • b'HUNTSVILLE, Ala., April 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- High school and college students from around the U.S. and world have spent the last eight months designing, building, and testing their creations for NASA\'s 27th annual Human Exploration Rover Challenge one of seven NASA Artemis Student Challenges.
  • The winners were announced during a virtual awards ceremony April 16.\nHERC tasks U.S. and international student teams to design, engineer, and test a human-powered rover on a course that simulates the terrain found on rocky bodies in the solar system.
  • "To all of the students who took on these tasks and participated in Rover Challenge, we salute you and congratulate you on your accomplishments.
  • "These members of the Artemis Generation rose to the occasion and delivered their reviews, presentations, designs, and videos without fail.

NASA Invites Public to Take Flight With Ingenuity Mars Helicopter

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, April 6, 2021
Spaceflight, United States, Spacecraft, Discovery and exploration of the Solar System, Mars rovers, Mars, Ingenuity, Perseverance, Jezero, MiMi Aung, Octavia E. Butler Landing

WASHINGTON, April 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA is targeting no earlier than Sunday, April 11, for Ingenuity Mars Helicopter's first attempt at powered, controlled flight on another planet.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, April 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA is targeting no earlier than Sunday, April 11, for Ingenuity Mars Helicopter's first attempt at powered, controlled flight on another planet.
  • Ingenuity arrived at Mars' Jezero Crater Feb. 18, attached to the belly of NASA's Perseverance rover.
  • The helicopter is a technology demonstration with a planned test flight duration of up to 31 days (30 Mars days, or sols).
  • The flight date may shift as engineers work on the deployments, preflight checks, and vehicle positioning of both Perseverance and Ingenuity.

NASA to Host Briefing to Preview First Mars Helicopter Flights

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Spaceflight, Spacecraft, United States, Discovery and exploration of the Solar System, Exploration of Mars, Mars rovers, Mars Exploration Program, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Perseverance, Ingenuity, Mars, NASA

WASHINGTON, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA will hold a virtual media briefing at 1:30 p.m. EDT (10:30 a.m. PDT) Tuesday, March 23, to discuss upcoming activities for the agency's Ingenuity Mars helicopter.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA will hold a virtual media briefing at 1:30 p.m. EDT (10:30 a.m. PDT) Tuesday, March 23, to discuss upcoming activities for the agency's Ingenuity Mars helicopter.
  • The teams operating Ingenuity and NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance rover have chosen the flight zone where the helicopter will attempt the first powered, controlled flights on another planet.
  • The briefing will air live on NASA Television , the NASA app , and the agency's website and will livestream on multiple agency social media platforms, including the YouTube and Facebook channels for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.
  • Ingenuity is a technology demonstration with a limited test flight duration of up to 31 days (30 Mars days, or sols).

Cobham Mission Systems’ Pyrovalves Power Precision Landing of NASA Perseverance Rover on Mars

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, March 16, 2021
Other Defense, Other Energy, Contracts, Hardware, Energy, Technology, Defense, Security, Satellite, Science, Aerospace, Other Science, Manufacturing, Mars rovers, Spaceflight, United States, Spacecraft, Outer space, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Perseverance, Exploration of Mars, Mars, Cobham, NASA

Cobham Mission Systems, the worlds leader in critical control solutions, today announced that its space pyrotechnic valves on the NASA Perseverance rover mission enabled an historically precise landing on Mars.

Key Points: 
  • Cobham Mission Systems, the worlds leader in critical control solutions, today announced that its space pyrotechnic valves on the NASA Perseverance rover mission enabled an historically precise landing on Mars.
  • Cobham Mission Systems is so proud to support NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory with proven space propulsion solutions that power Mars exploration, said Craig Ryan , integrated product team director for Space Systems at Cobham Mission Systems.
  • For the seven-month Perseverance rover flight, the Cobham Mission Systems pyrovalves were locked closed, to safely isolate fuel until the final minutes of the journey.
  • Cobham Mission Systems pyrovalves are compatible with NASA Standard Initiators and NSI equivalents and are fully flight qualified.

NASA's Perseverance Drives on Mars' Terrain for First Time

Retrieved on: 
Friday, March 5, 2021
Spaceflight, Mars rovers, Spacecraft, Discovery and exploration of the Solar System, United States, Mars Exploration Program, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Perseverance, Mars, Rover, NASA

"This was our first chance to 'kick the tires' and take Perseverance out for a spin.

Key Points: 
  • "This was our first chance to 'kick the tires' and take Perseverance out for a spin.
  • The rover's mobility system is not only thing getting a test drive during this period of initial checkouts.
  • "Tuesday's first test of the robotic arm was a big moment for us," said Robert Hogg, Mars 2020 Perseverance rover deputy mission manager.
  • JPL, which is managed for NASA by Caltech in Pasadena, built and manages operations of the Perseverance rover.