2/18/2021 - Undated handout file photo issued by Nasa of a Hubble Space Telscope image of Mars. Nasa's Mars Perseverance rover will land on the red planet on Thursday to begin its search for traces of life. Issue date: Thursday February 18, 2021. (Photo by PA Images/Sipa USA) *** US Rights Only ***
Nasa Perseverance rover to land on Mars
CAPE CANAVERAL, FL (77 WABC/AP) — The most popular space question – did life ever exist on Mars will hopefully be answered.
A NASA rover, called the Perseverance, landed on the red planet to find preserved signs of life, if any, from several billion years ago.
The six-wheeled vehicle just arrived at Jezero Crater, a place that planetary scientists think could be an ideal place to find preserved signs of life – if life ever did arise on Mars.
Mars has been long known as a deathtrap for incoming spacecraft. Ground controllers watched nervously Thursday afternoon as the rover made its descent. Perseverance is the third visit to Mars this month.
Two spacecraft from the United Arab Emirates and China swung into orbit around the planet on successive days last week.
No team could have prepared me better for what’s to come. Whatever Mars throws at me, I’m ready as I’ll ever be. #CountdownToMars
Status updates: https://t.co/WNahb9DAfq pic.twitter.com/DF74cTNqun
— NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) February 18, 2021
