NASAs newest Mars rover is made with its testing and is prepared to launch its first clinical objective. After landing on the planet in February, the Perseverance rover has been hectic attempting out its numerous instruments– converting atmospheric co2 into oxygen that would be needed for manned missions, flying a helicopter and taking pictures.
Now, it will begin its mission: trying to find evidence of life. Over the coming months, it will use a range of sophisticated instruments to scan the planets Jezero Crater for places of interest, drill into rocks and soil, and collect specimens to be recovered and brought to Earth by future spacecraft.
High-tech tool kit The rover is loaded with 23 cams, sensors, a laser and a drill-equipped robotic arm. NASA researchers will spend the next 2 years using the instruments to get more information about Jezero Crater and home-in on areas they may like to study in higher depth.
The two zoomable electronic cameras that comprise the rovers Mastcam-Z imager survey the terrain. The SuperCam laser is being used to identify rocks chemistry. The rover gathers more comprehensive chemical and mineralogical details using the spectrometers on its arm instruments: the Planetary Instrument for X-Ray Lithochemistry, or PIXL, and the Scanning for Habitable Environments With Raman and Luminescence for Organics and Chemicals, or Sherloc.
The rover is equipped with a computer processor performing at up to 200 megahertz, sluggish compared to a modern computer. It also has interactions equipment, internal temperature controls and a large battery in the back to guarantee it has lots of power.