NASA JPL - MARS 2020 Perseverance Rover - Exploration Program Mission Patch Choose the darker, special edition patch, or the lighter color scheme; both AB Emblem patches, commemorating the MARS Perseverance Rover Mission. The Mars 2020 mission launched on July 30, 2020, at 4:50 a.m. PDT (7:50 a.m. EDT). The Perseverance rover landed inside Mars' Jezero Crater on Feb. 18, The Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover will search for signs of ancient microbial life, which will advance NASA's quest to explore the past habitability of Mars. The rover has a drill to collect core samples of Martian rock and soil, then store them in sealed tubes for pickup by a future mission that would ferry them back to Earth for detailed analysis. Perseverance will also test technologies to help pave the way for future human exploration of Mars. Mission Name: Mars 2020 Rover Name: Perseverance Main Job: The Perseverance rover will seek signs of ancient life and collect rock and soil samples for possible return to Earth. Launched: July 30, 2020 Launch Location: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida Landing: Feb. 18, 2021 Landing Site: Jezero Crater, Mars Mission Duration: At least one Mars year (about 687 Earth days) Tech Demo: The Mars Helicopter is a technology demonstration, hitching a ride on the Perseverance rover.
