The Mars 2020 mission, consisting of the rover Perseverance and helicopter Ingenuity, was launched on July 30, 2020, and landed in Jezero crater on Mars on February 18, 2021.[1] As of,, Perseverance has been on the planet for sols (total days; ). Ingenuity operated for sols (total days; ) until its rotor blades, possibly all four, were damaged during the landing of flight 72 on January 18, 2024, causing NASA to retire the craft.[2]
Current weather data on Mars is being monitored by the Curiosity rover and had previously been monitored by the Insight lander.[3] [4] The Perseverance rover is also collecting weather data. (See the External links section)
The Mars 2020 mission was announced by NASA on December 4, 2012. In 2017 the three sites (Jezero crater, Northeastern Syrtis Major Planum, and Columbia Hills) were chosen as potential landing locations, with Jezero crater selected as the landing location, and launched on July 30th, 2020, from Cape Canaveral.
After arriving on February 18, Perseverance focused on validating its systems. During this phase, it used its science instruments for the first time,[5] generated oxygen on Mars with MOXIE,[6] and deployed Ingenuity. Ingenuity began the technology demonstration phase of its mission, completing five flights before transitioning to the operations demonstration phase of its mission.
The Cratered Floor Campaign was the first science campaign.[7] It began on June 1, 2021, with the goal of exploring the Crater Floor Fractured Rough and Séítah geologic units. To avoid the sand dunes of the Séítah unit, Perseverance mostly traveled within the Crater Floor Fractured Rough geologic unit or along the boundary between the two units. The first nine of Perseverances sample tubes were to be filled during this expedition, including the first three 'witness tubes'.[8]
After collecting the samples, Perseverance returned to its landing site, before continuing to the delta for its second science campaign. Some of the sample tubes filled during this campaign were later stored in a designated area for the upcoming NASA-ESA Mars Sample Return mission, during the Delta Front Campaign.[9] While Perseverance embarked on its first science campaign, Ingenuity continued to travel alongside the rover as part of its operations demonstration campaign.[10] Ingenuity's sixth through twenty-fifth flights were completed during this phase, achieving an at-the-time speed record of 5.5 meters per second.[11]
The Delta Front Campaign was the second science campaign of the Mars 2020 mission. The campaign began with Ingenuity continuing to travel alongside the rover as part of its operations demonstration campaign, and Perseverance leaving the rapid traverse mode it had entered at the end of the last mission to rapidly reach the delta.[12] During the campaign, Perseverance would take a further nine samples, in addition to two further witness tubes. Ingenuity would make its 41th flight during this mission. An incident occurred in which Ingenuity was unable to sufficiently charge during the night, leading to a change in how Ingenuity manages its heaters.[13] The MOXIE experiment continued to run, generating a record amount of oxygen-per-hour on Mars. The campaign concluded with Perseverance reaching the top of the delta and the completion of its first sample depot.[14]
The Upper Fan Campaign, also called the Delta Top Campaign, was the third science campaign of the Mars 2020 mission. Whereas prior campaigns investigated areas that are believed to have been submerged in an ancient lake, this campaign investigated one of the riverbeds that used to feed into the lake.[15] [16] The MOXIE experiment completed its 16th, and final, oxygen generation test during this campaign.[17] Ingenuity completed its 54th flight during this campaign. The helicopter experienced an anomaly that caused it to land outside the range of the rover, but this was ultimately resolved when the rover moved into a position that allowed contact to be restored.[18] The campaign ended with Perseverance reaching the margin carbonate geologic unit,[19] after having taken three further rock samples (and 21 overall).[20]
The Margin Campaign was the fourth of the Mars 2020 mission. The campaign was expected to last around 8 months, although it lasted closer to a year, after which point Perseverance began the Crater Rim Campaign.[21] The campaign gets its name from the geological unit it aims to explore - the margin carbonate unit. Rocks in this unit are capable of containing traces of life, and their formation is tied to the presence of liquid water.[22]
During the campaign, Ingenuity achieved several records, including a max altitude of 24 meters (flight 61) and a maximum groundspeed of 10 meters per second (flight 62). Unfortunately, due to a failure on the 72nd flight, the helicopter blades became too damaged to fly. On January 25th, 2024, NASA declared the end of Ingenuity's mission - the helicopter's final resting place was named Valinor Hills Station, after a location in the Lord of the Rings franchise.[23] Despite the loss of Ingenuity's blades, the core of the helicopter remained intact; it will continue to monitor atmospheric conditions for as long as it is able. Perseverance took four further rock samples during this campaign (25 overall). The campaign overlapped with solar conjunction, interfering with the ability to communicate with the rover from Earth.[24]
The Crater Rim Campaign is the fifth, currently ongoing science campaign, and the first new science campaign since the loss of the Ingenuity helicopter. It is expected to last until the end of 2024, and will include a total elevation change of over 1000 feet (~300 meters). The main focuses of the campaign are expected to be at the regions "Pico Turquino" and "Witch Hazel Hill", pictured above.[25] It is expected to encounter rocks as old as 4 billion years.[26] [27] [28]
See main article: NASA-ESA Mars Sample Return. In the frame of the NASA-ESA Mars Sample Return around of soil samples along with some Martian gas samples from the atmosphere will be cached. Currently, samples are being cached by Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover on the surface of Mars. Out of 43 sample tubes, 8 are igneous rock sample tubes, 12 are sedimentary rock sample tubes,[29] 1 silica-cemented carbonate rock sample tube, 1 gas sample tube,[30] 2 regolith sample tubes, 3 "witness tubes",[31] with 16 tubes remaining unused as of August, 2024. Before launch, 5 of the 43 tubes were designated "witness tubes" and filled with materials that would capture particulates in the ambient environment of Mars.[32]
