Mission to Mars!

Conditions on Mars are far more extreme than those on Earth. The average temperature is a bone-chilling -63°C (-81°F). The atmosphere contains mostly carbon dioxide gas, making the air unbreathable for humans. There’s no water on the planet’s surface. Mars also receives large amounts of radiation from the sun. This powerful energy can damage living and nonliving things. “If you could put food on Mars, it would be baked beyond recognition,” says Tanja Bosak. She’s a scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who’s part of the mission. 

But evidence suggests that 3.5 billion years ago, the planet was much different. For one, it was warmer. Rivers snaked along the surface and poured into lakes. Rain probably fell from the sky. Scientists think that tiny organisms called microbes could have thrived in these conditions. To find out, the Perseverance rover will explore an area that was once a lake called Jezero Crater (see Exploring Mars). 

Conditions on Mars are far more extreme than those on Earth. The average temperature is a bone-chilling -63°C (-81°F). The atmosphere is thinner. It contains mostly carbon dioxide gas. That means humans can’t breathe the air. There’s no water on the planet’s surface. 

Mars also has high levels of radiation. The sun produces this powerful energy. It can damage living and nonliving things. “If you could put food on Mars, it would be baked beyond recognition,” says Tanja Bosak. She’s a scientist for the mission. She works at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 

On Earth, microbes form a slimy layer at the bottom of lakes. They clump together with sediments and eventually die. Over time, the microbes and sediments form large rocky structures. Perseverance will use cameras to look for similar structures on Mars. It will use other instruments to determine what the rocks are made of. 

Back on Earth, Bosak and other scientists will analyze Perseverance’s photos and monitor what the rover finds. If they think a rock looks promising, they will direct the rover to investigate it.

But evidence suggests Mars wasn’t always this way. It was probably warmer 3.5 billion years ago. Rivers ran along its surface. They poured into lakes. Rain probably fell from the sky. Scientists think tiny creatures called microbes may have lived on the planet. Perseverance will try and find out. It will explore an area called Jezero Crater. It once was a lake (see Exploring Mars). 

Microbes live at the bottoms of lakes on Earth. They form a slimy layer. They clump together with sediments and eventually die. Over time, the material forms large rocky structures. This takes a long time. Perseverance will use cameras. It will look for similar features on Mars.

Bosak and other scientists will look at the rover’s photos. They might spot an interesting rock. They’ll guide the rover to take a closer look. The rover will use other tools. They’ll analyze what the rocks are made of.

Even if Perseverance can’t detect signs of ancient life, its findings could help answer other important questions about Mars. For example, when exactly did a lake exist in Jezero Crater? And why did it disappear?

During its mission, the rover will also perform tests and measurements to pave the way for future human trips to the Red Planet. One instrument will try to turn carbon dioxide in the atmosphere into oxygen that humans could breathe. Perseverance will also analyze Martian dust to see if it would be harmful to people.

Finally, the rover will launch a softball-sized helicopter to test if it can fly through the air, which is much thinner than Earth’s. That experiment will help scientists build drones that could fly across Mars to explore.

It could take until April for Perseverance to begin collecting data. First, NASA has to make sure all the instruments work. Scientists like Bosak are excited about what the rover will reveal about life on Mars—and Earth. “By looking at Mars, we end up learning so much about our own planet and how unique it is,” she says.

Perseverance may not find signs of life on Mars. If it doesn’t, it could still help answer other important questions. For example, when did a lake exist in Jezero Crater? And why did it dry up?

The rover will do other tests during its mission. They will pave the way for future human trips to Mars. One device will try to turn carbon dioxide into oxygen. That’s the gas humans breathe. The rover will also study dust on Mars. The dust could be harmful to people.

Finally, the rover will launch a helicopter. It’s the size of a softball. Scientist want to see if it can fly in the planet’s atmosphere. That will help them design future drones. The aircraft could someday explore Mars.

Perseverance may not start collecting data until April. NASA has to first test the rover. Scientists like Bosak are excited. The mission could reveal a lot about life on Mars. It could also tell us more about life on Earth. “By looking at Mars, we end up learning so much about our own planet and how unique it is,” she says.