Nasa announces new rover mission to Mars in 2020 Options

[Quetzalcoatl]

If we were to, in a childish way, find a short for Perseverance, I would suggest Percy in memory of Percival Lowell.

[centsworth_II]

Since a large part of Curiosity's mission included exploring Vera Rubin Ridge, it's interesting that "Vera" is also included in the 2020 rover's name.

[Mercure]

Since a large part of Curiosity's mission included exploring Vera Rubin Ridge, it's interesting that "Vera" is also included in the 2020 rover's name.

Vera, per se...

[kymani76]

Since there is no dedicated thread for Perseverance mapping yet, I will just post it here...Birds-eye view of the center of Mars2020 landing elipse marked with white "X"....looking west across ancient river delta towards Neretva valley...along the route of future traverse...

[Quetzalcoatl]

Officially, in the face of the pandemic, here is NASA’s communication concerning the launch of Perseverance.

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=7620

But since the situation is very evolutionary, we can probably fear a next postponement...
If you have well-sourced information, do not hesitate to relay.

It may not be the most important thing right now, but...

[Quetzalcoatl]

I also like to find answers to my questions but I am counting on you for the rest.

Excerpt from the link :

https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/03/20/facin...-orion-testing/

NASA plans to continue work on Mars rover, James Webb Space Telescope

"The coronavirus pandemic could have far-reaching impacts across a range of NASA missions, but agency officials said Thursday they will attempt to insulate two of NASA’s most critical robotic science missions from delays caused by COVID-19-related closures.
Lori Glaze, head of NASA’s planetary science division, said the Perseverance rover remains on schedule for liftoff during a limited 20-day window opening July 17. If the mission — also known as Mars 2020 — misses this summer’s launch window, the next chance to send the rover to Mars won’t be until 2022, a delay that could add to the $2.5 billion mission’s price tag.
“We’ve put together a framework … with which to look at each of the missions and what points we want to continue working on them,” Glaze said in a virtual town hall meeting Thursday with members of the planetary science community. “And Mars 2020 is one of only two missions within (NASA’s science directorate) that is the very highest priority … We’re going to ensure that we meet that launch window in July."
“In so doing, we’re also making sure that our personnel are healthy and safe,” Glaze said. “We’re taking every precaution to make sure that those individuals that are working on Mars 2020 are going to work in conditions and have an environment where they’re able to stay safe. But we’re continuing the activities, the integration and test activities, that are going on at Kennedy Space Center.”
The Perseverance rover arrived at the Kennedy Space Center last month from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. Inside a pristine, climate-controlled clean room at the Florida spaceport, the rover will be installed on its landing platform and attached to a cruise stage that will carry it from Earth to Mars.
Then the spacecraft will be enclosed within the nose cone of a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket and trucked to the Atlas 5’s seaside launch complex for lifting atop the vehicle. Once in place, teams will add the rover’s plutonium power generator.
Glaze said members of the Mars 2020 team from KSC, JPL, NASA Headquarters and the Department of Energy — responsible for the nuclear power source — have given their “full support” for the plan.
“As of right now, and even if we go to a next stage of alert, Mars 2020 is moving forward on schedule and everything is so far very well on track,” Glaze said. “At this point, we don’t see any impact from the current situation.”
The Perseverance rover mission is one of two high-priority projects within NASA’s science division that are pre-approved to continue work even if the agency elevates all centers to Stage 4 in the coronavirus response plan."

[Explorer1]

The advantages of working in a sterile environment/clean room are now very obvious these days, that's for sure...

[Quetzalcoatl]

From any point of view.
It would be a shame to contaminate Martian life with this crap.

[mcaplinger]

I also like to find answers to my questions but I am counting on you for the rest.

I'm not sure what you're wondering about. I think Lori's Glaze's statement is pretty clear that work is continuing on M2020.

I'm not empowered to share details but I can assure you that the statement is accurate.

None of us can predict the future, obviously.

[Quetzalcoatl]

I did not express myself well, I am not very proficient in English and a finesse in French can be a mistake in another language.

I'm not empowered to share details but I can assure you that the statement is accurate.

I had no doubt about that.

Have a nice day

[atomoid]

Interesting to see the Mars Helicopter in stowed configuration.

[vjkane]

Interesting to see the Mars Helicopter in stowed configuration.

Looks exposed. Hope the engine blast does kick up too many pebbles. But I'm sure the engineers have thought about this.

[djellison]

It has a hangar. The footage released of thermal testing shows the cover in place. https://vimeo.com/381357280 ( 11 minutes in )

Hangar gets dropped. Rover drives on leaving it behind. Helicopter gets deployed.

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[PaulH51]

It has a hangar. The footage released of thermal testing shows the cover in place.
Hangar gets dropped. Rover drives on leaving it behind. Helicopter gets deployed.

Thanks Doug: Looking at the mechanism retaining the helicopter to the belly of the rover that we can see in great detail on PIA23823 one can sort of work out how it is released and rotated to the surface by the actuators and hinges etc

I'm sure JPL outreach and engineering have videoed that release mechanism working many times and maybe even animated the steps in the sequence of dropping the hangar, driving away and then deploying the helicopter. I expect they will treat us to that in the not too distant future, hopefully before launch.

BTW the mission countdown timer shows just over 79 days remaining until the first day of the launch window opens

[vjkane]

It has a hangar. The footage released of thermal testing shows the cover in place. https://vimeo.com/381357280 ( 11 minutes in )

Hangar gets dropped. Rover drives on leaving it behind. Helicopter gets deployed.

Thank you for the additional information