NASA Mars 2020 Rover Stands on Its Own Wheels Ahead of Launch
NASA's Mars 2020 rover successfully completes a major milestone by supporting its full weight on its six wheels for the first time. The upgraded robotic explorer prepares for a July 2020 launch to join the still-active Curiosity rover on the Red Planet.
NASA's Mars 2020 rover achieves a crucial development milestone at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory by standing fully assembled on its own six wheels. This stand-up test shows that the robotic explorer successfully supports its own weight, marking a significant step in its preparation for the harsh Martian environment. The rover undergoes a series of rigorous evaluations, including tests for its nuclear-powered engine, wheel mobility, sensor arrays, and navigation systems.
The upcoming rover builds upon the lasting success of the Mars Curiosity rover, which lands on the Red Planet in 2012 for a planned two-year mission. Curiosity continues to operate today, having overcome a computer crash earlier this year, and provides the Mars 2020 team with years of invaluable hands-on experience. The newer rover features key upgrades over its predecessor, including improved environmental durability and enhanced scientific equipment.
Mars 2020 readies for its scheduled July 2020 launch to carry on and expand the vital exploration work that Curiosity starts. By carrying a host of different research instruments to the Red Planet, the new rover complements the existing mission and helps scientists conduct a more thorough study of Mars. The six-wheeled platform eventually operates completely on its own, hundreds of millions of miles away from any human mechanics.