# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/41 "2021-02-18T21:10:59Z")
This has been a heck of a month for Mars exploration: _Hope_ and _Tianwen_-1 both made it to orbit, now _Perseverance_ has successfully landed. We’ve still got the lander part of _Tianwen_ (several months before they try that, though) and _Perseverance_ has a helicopter! Good times. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/42 "2021-02-18T21:12:16Z")
My kids and I have been studying the terrestrial planets generally this school year, and Mars 2020 specifically for the past two weeks. We had a big day/celebration planned today. I admit, in the final 16 minutes, I was afraid to speak, mainly because I was afraid my voice would crack and I’d start ugly crying. ---
**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, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/43 "2021-02-18T21:13:33Z")
I watched the JPL clean feed, which seemed about 15 seconds ahead of NASA TV. Hazcam pix sooner than I expected Brian ---
**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, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/44 "2021-02-18T21:15:03Z")
Fantastic accomplishment once again!! Perseverance is said to be the most sophisticated craft yet. Great stuff for all the world to look forward to. Of course a major checkout of all systems is yet to come, but the hard part is done. Given the terrific engineering that’s been done, I suspect all systems will check out. ---
**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, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/45 "2021-02-18T21:24:20Z")
A question I had has just been answered. The Ingenuity helicopter is carrying a color camera, so we can expect some aerial pictures at some point, though it’s main intent is just to test out the feasibility of the helicopter idea. ---
**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, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/46 "2021-02-18T21:41:23Z")
First pic: [![](https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/image001_5.png) ](https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/image001_5.png) Brian ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/47 "2021-02-18T21:45:48Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > I admit, in the final 16 minutes, I was afraid to speak, mainly because I was afraid my voice would crack and I’d start ugly crying. Same here. We just mostly watched in awed silence. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/48 "2021-02-18T21:48:33Z")
Awesome. I’m just learning today, the rover will be taking samples for future return to Earth sometime in the 2030’s. I really want to know how that’s going to work. ---
**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, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/49 "2021-02-18T22:15:24Z")
Difficult to understand why that future mission doesn’t just carry a drill and take the samples itself when it gets there. I’m sure there’s a perfectly good reason though… ---
**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, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/50 "2021-02-18T22:19:33Z")
The drill is nonzero weight. the sample return rover has to pick up all the samples (which weigh more than the canisters on Percy, as they are now filled with stuff) Not sure if the rocket to escape mars would be on that rover or back at the landing site. Brian ---
**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, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/51 "2021-02-18T23:45:14Z")
I’m watching the ongoing press conference. There is apparently imagery of the descent and landing that has never been taken before, both still images and video that will be downloaded and processed over the next few days. The video will hopefully come with audio, too, from the onboard microphones. One thing that was mentioned several times is that this project has been in the works for eight years. The complexity of the whole mission cannot be overstated. It’s a monumental accomplishment. ---
**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 19, 2021, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/52 "2021-02-19T00:52:40Z")
**[Link to today’s presser](https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/timeline/landing/watch-online/)**, if anyone missed it and wants to see it. It doesn’t start until around the 31:00 minute mark, so you have to fast-forward to that point. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2021, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/53 "2021-02-19T01:07:10Z")
Listening to a lady speak about this today (at JPL). The rover will take the samples, put them in a vile and then just drop that vile on the ground for later retrieval. That just sounds bonkers to me. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2021, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/54 "2021-02-19T02:25:13Z")
It does sound like rather a vile idea. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2021, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/55 "2021-02-19T02:28:18Z")
Lol. My bad. Vial. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2021, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/56 "2021-02-19T02:36:43Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > Lol. My bad. Vial. - Better than having it land at Vail. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2021, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/57 "2021-02-19T02:44:33Z")
That would certainly be of no avail. ---
**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 19, 2021, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/58 "2021-02-19T03:45:20Z")
Current location of Percy: > **[Location Map for Perseverance Rover - NASA](https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/mission/where-is-the-rover/)** > > Get the day-by-day location of the Mars Perseverance rover as it explores Jezero Crater in this interactive map. The map also shows the location of the Mars Helicopter. Brian ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2021, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/59 "2021-02-19T04:58:17Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > Current location of Percy: I immediately visualized a small green locomotive chugging across the Martian sands. [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cc/Thomas\_and\_Friends\_Percy.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cc/Thomas_and_Friends_Percy.jpg) ---
**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 19, 2021, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/60 "2021-02-19T11:42:52Z")
“Percy” is just so much easier to type… Here are details from the 1st press conference: > **[Perseverance on Mars: Where it is, and what the next steps are](https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/02/perseverance-on-mars-where-it-is-and-what-the-next-steps-are/)** > > NASA's first chat about its newest rover talks about the landing and what's next. Brian [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068.md?page=4)