Last summer, three missions set out on a journey of millions of miles. Bound for Mars, the trio carry an array of state-of-the-art instruments to explore the red planet.
Hope Orbiter
Launched July 19
Hope was the first spacecraft to launch to Mars last summer, and the first Mars mission for the United Arab Emirates.
The orbiter will observe Mars from space, forming a detailed picture of the planet’s atmosphere and its weather with a suite of imaging devices. A camera will capture high-resolution images of the planet. An infrared spectrometer will study dust, ice clouds, water vapor and temperature in the lower atmosphere. And an ultraviolet spectrometer will investigate carbon monoxide, hydrogen and oxygen in the upper atmosphere.
Source: Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center
Tianwen-1
Launched July 23
China is sending an orbiter, lander and rover to Mars — the only mission last year to attempt a three-pronged exploration. After the spacecraft reaches Mars, the landing pod will detach from the orbiter and descend to the planet’s surface. The orbiter will remain in space and observe the planet using seven instruments.
A parachute attached to the lander’s protective shell will slow the descent. Next, a set of struts will deploy midair. A thruster attached to the bottom of the lander will also help guide the vehicle to a softer landing.
Once on the surface, a ramp will slide out so the rover can drive away. The rover has two sets of solar panel wings that will unfurl after landing.
Source: China National Space Administration and China Central Television
Perseverance
Launched July 30
The NASA mission includes Perseverance, a 2,200-pound rover, and Ingenuity, an experimental Mars helicopter. The Ingenuity helicopter weighs about four pounds, and will be the first to attempt powered flight on another planet.
The Perseverance rover’s design is based on Curiosity, a successful NASA mission that landed on Mars in 2012. The plutonium power supply is designed to last more than a decade. The rover carries 19 cameras and a drill to extract core samples from rocks.
Perseverance also uses a suspension system to drive over obstacles. The rover can turn a full 360 degrees in place, using six individually motorized aluminum wheels.
The trio joined dozens of other spacecraft, past and present, already hurtling through our solar system.