Explainer: NASA’s 2020 Perseverance mission

The Perseverance mission launched from Florida's Canaveral Air Force Station, carrying an orbiter, a rover, and a drone helicopter. It aims to land on Mars on February 18, 2021, to explore the Jezero Crater, a former lakebed. The Perseverance Rover, based on the Curiosity Rover design, includes advanced features like a cross-country suspension system, cameras, sensors, and a robotic arm. It will use scientific instruments to search for signs of past life on Mars, such as amino acids and fatty acids.

What are the components carried by the Perseverance mission to Mars?

• A rover, a satellite, and a drone helicopter

• An orbiter, a rover, and a drone helicopter

• A rover, a lander, and a drone helicopter

• An orbiter, a satellite, and a drone helicopter

Which previous rover's design is the Perseverance Rover based on?

• Spirit Rover

• Opportunity Rover

• Curiosity Rover

• Sojourner Rover

What is one of the key features of the Perseverance Rover's design?

• A wind turbine

• A cross-country suspension system

• A water recycling system

• A solar panel system

What is the purpose of the robotic arm on the Perseverance Rover?

• To collect rock samples

• To drill into the ground and scan for amino acids and fatty acids

• To capture images of the Martian surface

• To communicate with Earth

What could the presence of amino acids and fatty acids in Martian soil suggest?

• The presence of magnetic fields

• The presence of volcanic activity

• The presence of water

• The presence of past life forms