# Perseverance rover on Mars (was: Mars lander set for Feb 18th landing) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 2, 2021, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068 "2021-02-02T17:56:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2021, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/1 "2021-02-02T17:56:43Z")
My name is on it. I still can’t believe one Mars lander had a problem because one part used metric system and another used pounds, feet,etc. How that got through QC is a big mystery to me. > ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2021, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/2 "2021-02-04T16:13:30Z")
Is this one also using the sky-crane landing method? ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2021, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/3 "2021-02-04T16:48:04Z")
Yes, using the same basic method as Curiosity (though with some improvements) > **[Entry, Descent and Landing (EDL) - NASA](https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/timeline/landing/entry-descent-landing/)** > > Entry, descent and landing, often called EDL is the most intense part of the Mars 2020 mission. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2021, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/4 "2021-02-06T01:10:26Z")
since Mars is so far away they cannot fix a problem , it is 100% automated . ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/5 "2021-02-07T11:36:55Z")
Thanks for the heads-up, though now I can’t wait the nearly two weeks until the big day! I had forgotten all about it. Aside from real scientific instruments, Perseverance carries a microphone (actually, I think two). So in addition to searching for signs of life, we will hopefully hear the sounds on the surface of Mars (I guess just the sound of wind, or dust storms, plus the sound of Perseverance itself trundling along or drilling). I’m a little worried though because the last Mars mission that carried a microphone crashed into the surface. Fingers and toes crossed for this one!! Main website: > **[Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover - NASA](https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/)** > > NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance rover will look for signs of past microbial life, cache rock and soil samples, and prepare for future human exploration. ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/6 "2021-02-07T15:39:20Z")
It’s also carrying a helicopter, yes a helicopter! ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2021, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/7 "2021-02-09T15:46:30Z")
the UAE probe is going to set down today ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/8 "2021-02-10T19:56:08Z")
actually the UAE probe is only an orbit probe. China put their probe into orbit today and they are going to have a lander ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/9 "2021-02-18T06:00:38Z")
So, today’s the day of the landing! I have to say, it’s been a long time since I was this stoked for (and anxious about) a mission. It would be too cool to have a mini helicopter whirring about Mars, and somehow, hearing the sound of a place gives me a new sense of its reality—I remember listening excitedly when Huygens broadcast the [sound of Titan](https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/whycassini/16jan_titan.html). And of course, there’s that whole ‘actually looking for life’-bit. Now, I don’t realistically expect anything definitive to come off it, but to me, the commitment to actually looking, bringing the question of life on Mars into scientific focus again, is exciting in itself. And who knows, maybe we’ll see a few tantalizing bits of evidence? And two years from now, we’ll have the ESA’s [ExoMars](https://www.esa.int/esapub/bulletin/bulletin126/bul126c_vago.pdf) mission, which among other things will be able to drill down 2m into the Martian soil. Anyway, I’ll be sure to watch NASA’s lifestream today, keeping my fingers crossed through the 7 minutes of terror. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/10 "2021-02-18T09:57:11Z")
Also this one has a 20mp camera which is a big upgrade from Curiosity’s 4mp one. We should get some wonderful images. But there should also be high quality video of the landing (complete with audio as has been mentioned) which is going to be incredible to watch. Fingers crossed all goes well, humanity’s record of landing things on Mars is still not that great. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/11 "2021-02-18T10:24:56Z")
Likewise looking forward and anxious about it. The good news is that it’s using the same technology as the successful landing of Curiosity. The bad news is that the “skycrane” is really complex stuff – I was actually kind of surprised that the Curiosity landing worked exactly as planned. I’ll definitely be watching live this afternoon. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/12 "2021-02-18T12:28:55Z")
There will be various streams starting at 2:15 PM EST (1915 UTC) > **[NASA Invites Public to Share Thrill of Mars Perseverance Rover Landing – NASA...](https://mars.nasa.gov/news/8857/nasa-invites-public-to-share-thrill-of-mars-perseverance-rover-landing/)** > > Mark your calendars for live landing commentary, news briefings, livestreamed Q&As, virtual watch parties, student activities, and more. One of the benefits of working from home… (though even at work I would be at least listening to it) Brian ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/13 "2021-02-18T13:58:29Z")
they also have 2 microphones so they can pick up any noise . ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/14 "2021-02-18T17:32:19Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > There will be various streams starting at 2:15 PM EST (1915 UTC) The real fun doesn’t begin until around 3:30 EST. It’s scheduled to touch down at 3:44 PM EST but due to the communications delay of 11 minutes 22 seconds, we’ll hear about it around 3:55. Hopefully! ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/15 "2021-02-18T18:46:18Z")
## Perseverance Landing Day Milestones **Step 1** | Cruise Stage Separation **Step 2** | Atmospheric Entry **Step 3** | Peak Heating **Step 4** | Peak Deceleration **Step 5** | Parachute Deployment **Step 6** | Heat Shield Separation **Step 7** | Radar Lock **Step 8** | Terrain Relative Navigation Solution **Step 9** | Backshell Separation **Step 10** | Powered Descent **Step 11** | Rover Separation/Sky Crane **Step 12** | **Touchdown!** ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/16 "2021-02-18T19:17:57Z")
Live NASA commentary and video. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/gm0b_ijaYMQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Watch NASA’s Perseverance Rover Land on Mars!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gm0b_ijaYMQ) ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/17 "2021-02-18T19:37:11Z")
Is the visualization [eyes.nasa.gov](http://eyes.nasa.gov) working for anyone? Doesn’t seem to load on my phone… ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/18 "2021-02-18T19:39:51Z")
Yeah was just about to post that. It’s looking good on my laptop but I had to have a couple of goes at loading it. I suspect that particular site is doing rather good business right now but looks great! > **[Solar System Interactive](https://eyes.nasa.gov/apps/orrery/#/sc_perseverance)** > > NASA’s Solar System Interactive (also known as the Orrery) is a live look at the solar system, its planets, moons, comets, and asteroids, as well as the real-time locations of dozens of NASA missions. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/19 "2021-02-18T19:41:08Z")
NASA stream from mission control and animations showing the current position. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/nA9UZF-SZoQ/maxresdefault.jpg "NASA Live: Official Stream of NASA TV's Media Channel") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nA9UZF-SZoQ) When the 7 minutes of terror come, AFAIK the animations will show only what is expected. Confirmation of a successful landing will come after. Landing expected at 3:55 PM, Eastern Time (ET), 12:55 PM, Pacific Time (PT) ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/20 "2021-02-18T20:09:48Z")
FWIW, there’s also a Roku channel. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068.md?page=2)