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Nasa is preparing to launch its most ambitious Mars mission ever
In July, Nasa will launch its latest ambitious mission to Mars, as it lays the groundwork for a manned mission in the near future. An Atlas V-541 rocket will carry a new rover to the Red Planet.
Once it touches down nine months later, the rover – which builds on technology developed for its predecessor, Curiosity – will use an array of high-tech instruments and 23 cameras to scour the planet for evidence of past microbial life, and collect samples to be returned to Earth by a later mission. Unlike previous rovers, this one will carry a drone designed for the Martian atmosphere.
Bumpy ride
Each of the rover’s six wheels is 52.5cm in diameter – slightly larger than the wheels fitted to previous rover, Curiosity, which landed on Mars in 2012. Each wheel has its own motor, and they’re attached to the rover via titanium suspension with multiple pivots and struts that distribute its weight evenly.
Sound check
The Mars rover will be carried inside a specially designed spacecraft. Here, Nasa engineers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, prepare the vessel for an acoustic test, which blasts it with noise at up to 150 decibels, which will replicate the vibrations of a rocket launch.
Two-part travel
The spacecraft has two sections, which will separate before it enters Mars’ orbit. This Nasa engineer is checking the backshell, which protects the cargo from heat damage. After carrying its payload through the Martian atmosphere, the craft will hover above the surface, lowering the rover on a tether.
Simulated space
Here, Nasa engineers ready the spacecraft for eight days of thermal vacuum tests at the JPL’s Space Simulator Facility. This 25-metre tall chamber creates a nearly airless environment, chilled to -129°C, for the closest possible approximation of space. Powerful xenon lamps are used to simulate the Sun’s rays.