The Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover mission is part of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program, a long-term program to conduct robotic exploration of the Red Planet.
The Mars 2020 mission addresses high‐priority scientific goals for Mars exploration, including searching for past microbial life and collecting rock and soil samples, which could potentially be returned to Earth.
Perseverance will allow NASA to test new technologies for future robotic and manned missions to the Red Planet. These include an autopilot system called Terrain Relative Navigation that is designed to avoid hazards at the landing site, as well as a series of sensors to collect data during landing. A new autonomous navigation system will allow the Rover to drive faster on challenging terrain.
ODU is proud to participate in NASA’s Mars Exploration Program by supplying its High‐Speed & High‐Density connector solutions. The M2020 spacecraft uses ODU AMC® High‐Density Connectors to transmit video of the parachute inflating in the Martian atmosphere and the separation of the rover from the descent stage (aka the rocket jetpack). You can follow the landing of the Perseverance rover here: https://mars.nasa.gov/
The Perseverance rover landed on Mars on February 18, 2021. The duration of its mission is at least one Mars year (about 687 Earth days).
More information about ODU’s High‐Speed & High‐Density Connector Solutions can be found here.