Mars Exploration Fast Facts

CNN Editorial Research
9 minute read
Updated 2:03 PM EDT, Thu July 27, 2023
The Perseverance rover successfully collected two samples from a Martian rock, nicknamed "Rochette." The rover drilled the hole on the left, called "Montagnac," on September 7, and the hole on the right, known as "Montdenier," on September 1.
The Perseverance rover successfully collected two samples from a Martian rock, nicknamed "Rochette." The rover drilled the hole on the left, called "Montagnac," on September 7, and the hole on the right, known as "Montdenier," on September 1.
JPL-Caltech/NASA
NASA's Perseverance rover took a selfie on Mars with <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/07/world/mars-perseverance-rover-helicopter-picture-scn-trnd/index.html" target="_blank">the Ingenuity helicopter</a> on Tuesday, April 6. The 4-pound helicopter is sitting about 13 feet away from the rover.
NASA's Perseverance rover took a selfie on Mars with the Ingenuity helicopter on Tuesday, April 6. The 4-pound helicopter is sitting about 13 feet away from the rover.
JPL-Caltech/MSSS/NASA
NASA's Perseverance Mars rover used its dual-camera Mastcam-Z imager to capture this image of "Santa Cruz," a hill about 1.5 miles (2.5 kilometers) away from the rover, on April 29, 2021, the 68th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. The entire scene is inside of Mars' Jezero Crater; the crater's rim can be seen on the horizon line beyond the hill.This scene is not white balanced; instead, it is displayed in a preliminary calibrated version of a natural-color composite, approximately simulating the colors of the scene as it would appear to a person on Mars. An enhanced color version is also included.
NASA's Perseverance Mars rover used its dual-camera Mastcam-Z imager to capture this image of "Santa Cruz," a hill about 1.5 miles (2.5 kilometers) away from the rover, on April 29, 2021, the 68th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. The entire scene is inside of Mars' Jezero Crater; the crater's rim can be seen on the horizon line beyond the hill.This scene is not white balanced; instead, it is displayed in a preliminary calibrated version of a natural-color composite, approximately simulating the colors of the scene as it would appear to a person on Mars. An enhanced color version is also included.
ASU/MSSS/JPL-Caltech/NASA
This image shows a debris shield, which protected the Ingenuity helicopter during landing. The helicopter can still be seen attached underneath the rover.
This image shows a debris shield, which protected the Ingenuity helicopter during landing. The helicopter can still be seen attached underneath the rover.
MSSS/JPL-Caltech/NASA
This image of Mars was taken during the Perseverance rover's first drive on March 4.
This image of Mars was taken during the Perseverance rover's first drive on March 4.
JPL-Caltech/NASA
From its landing site, the rover could see a remnant of a fan-shaped deposit of sediments known as a delta (the raised area of dark brown rock in the middle ground).
From its landing site, the rover could see a remnant of a fan-shaped deposit of sediments known as a delta (the raised area of dark brown rock in the middle ground).
JPL-Caltech/NASA
This image of Mars' surface was taken using a camera mounted to the bottom of the rover.
This image of Mars' surface was taken using a camera mounted to the bottom of the rover.
JPL-Caltech/NASA
This image shows the rover's wheel on the surface of the red planet.
This image shows the rover's wheel on the surface of the red planet.
JPL-Caltech/NASA
The navigation cameras aboard NASA's Perseverance rover captured this view of the rover's deck on February 20.
The navigation cameras aboard NASA's Perseverance rover captured this view of the rover's deck on February 20.
JPL-Caltech/NASA
This is the first color image released from Perseverance on the Martian surface. Rocks can be seen scattered around the landing site in Jezero Crater.
This is the first color image released from Perseverance on the Martian surface. Rocks can be seen scattered around the landing site in Jezero Crater.
JPL-Caltech/NASA
The rover took this image of its parachute during its descent to Mars.
The rover took this image of its parachute during its descent to Mars.
JPL-Caltech/NASA
Members of NASA mission control celebrate after receiving confirmation that the rover successfully touched down on Mars on February 18.
Members of NASA mission control celebrate after receiving confirmation that the rover successfully touched down on Mars on February 18.
Bill Ingalls/NASA
This image, from a camera on Perseverance's "jetpack" during the spacecraft's descent stage, captures the rover in midair just before its wheels touched down. This perspective has never been seen before on previous missions.
This image, from a camera on Perseverance's "jetpack" during the spacecraft's descent stage, captures the rover in midair just before its wheels touched down. This perspective has never been seen before on previous missions.
JPL-Caltech/NASA
President Joe Biden watches coverage of the rover landing from the White House. "Congratulations to NASA and everyone whose hard work made Perseverance's historic landing possible," he said <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1362536116197470210?s=20" target="_blank" target="_blank">in a tweet.</a> "Today proved once again that with the power of science and American ingenuity, nothing is beyond the realm of possibility."
President Joe Biden watches coverage of the rover landing from the White House. "Congratulations to NASA and everyone whose hard work made Perseverance's historic landing possible," he said in a tweet. "Today proved once again that with the power of science and American ingenuity, nothing is beyond the realm of possibility."
The White House
Perseverance <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAPersevere/status/1362507436611956736" target="_blank" target="_blank">sent this image back</a> shortly after landing on Mars. The rover will explore Jezero Crater, the site of an ancient lake that existed 3.9 billion years ago, and search for microfossils in the rocks and soil there.
Perseverance sent this image back shortly after landing on Mars. The rover will explore Jezero Crater, the site of an ancient lake that existed 3.9 billion years ago, and search for microfossils in the rocks and soil there.
JPL-Caltech/NASA
The Empire State Building in New York is illuminated in red on February 16 to mark Perseverance's scheduled landing on the red planet.
The Empire State Building in New York is illuminated in red on February 16 to mark Perseverance's scheduled landing on the red planet.
Emma Howells/NASA
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, carrying the Perseverance rover, launches from Cape Canaveral, Florida, in July 2020.
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, carrying the Perseverance rover, launches from Cape Canaveral, Florida, in July 2020.
Joel Kowsky/NASA
Engineers perform tests on the rover inside the Kennedy Space Center in April 2020. The rover was rotated clockwise and counterclockwise on a spin table to determine its center of gravity. Establishing the rover's center of gravity helped ensure the spacecraft would land on Mars as calculated.
Engineers perform tests on the rover inside the Kennedy Space Center in April 2020. The rover was rotated clockwise and counterclockwise on a spin table to determine its center of gravity. Establishing the rover's center of gravity helped ensure the spacecraft would land on Mars as calculated.
Christian Mangano/JPL-Caltech/NASA
This piece of hardware, designed at NASA's Johnson Space Center, will carry the first spacesuit materials to Mars to see how they hold up. It will also carry a piece of a Martian meteorite back to the surface of the planet so scientists can observe how it changes over time.
This piece of hardware, designed at NASA's Johnson Space Center, will carry the first spacesuit materials to Mars to see how they hold up. It will also carry a piece of a Martian meteorite back to the surface of the planet so scientists can observe how it changes over time.
Robert Markowitz/NASA
NASA workers install the Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment, aka MOXIE, into the chassis of the Perseverance rover in March 2019. This experiment will attempt to convert Martian carbon dioxide into oxygen. This could help NASA scientists learn how to produce not only rocket fuel on Mars, but also oxygen that could be used during future human exploration of the red planet.
NASA workers install the Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment, aka MOXIE, into the chassis of the Perseverance rover in March 2019. This experiment will attempt to convert Martian carbo