【】

You too can be a part of NASA’s mission to Mars. Virtually, of course.

NASA’s Perseverance rover is expected to touch down on Mars’ Jezero Crater at approximately 3:55 p.m. ET on Feb. 18. (You can watch the landing attempt on the live feed above.) The space agency will be hosting live coverage and commentary starting at 2:15 p.m. ET on several platforms, including:

• The NASA Public TV channel

• Nasa.gov

• NASA App

• YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitch, Daily Motion, and THETA.TV

The Perseverance mission will search for signs of past life. It's equipped with lasers, cameras, and other instruments to scan the planet for traces of atoms left behind by tiny lifeforms, and will fill 43 sample tubes to be later picked up and transported back to Earth.

Perseverance will also be carrying the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, which will attempt to launch the first flight on Mars. Ingenuity, a 4-pound, solar-powered drone equipped with a camera, is able to fly for about 90 seconds on a predetermined path.

Perseverance is NASA’s fifth Mars rover.

Related Video: Facts about space that will rock your world

最新评论