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Three unmanned Mars missions are currently approaching the red planet.
Just a week after space probes from China and the United Emirates had already swung into Mars orbit, the NASA rover "Perseverance" is due to land on Mars this Thursday.
"Perseverance" is the "largest, heaviest, cleanest and most technically sophisticated six-wheeled geologist who was ever launched into space," says the US space agency Nasa.
O-Ton Jim Bridenstine NASA administrator "We know that we will
make discoveries with the
"
Mars Perseverance Rover
"
that will make us ask a lot more questions."
The NASA mission was launched from the Cape Canaveral spaceport in July 2020.
The planning and construction of the rover, which cost around 2.2 billion euros, took around eight years.
The vehicle, which weighs a thousand kilograms and is three meters long, has seven scientific instruments, 23 cameras and a laser on board.
The rover will search for traces of past microbial life on Mars, as well as research the planet's climate and geology.
Rock samples and dust are to be taken and analyzed.
The first Chinese Mars probe, Tianwen-1, reached the planet's orbit last week.
According to China's space agency, the probe is expected to land on Mars in May or June 2021.
O-Ton Tan Zhiyun Deputy. Chief Designer China Academy of Space Technology
"After the space probe has entered remote sensing orbit, it will begin further scientific exploration of Mars - with its high- and medium-resolution cameras and the radar cameras for the surface."
Tianwen-1, a solar-powered rover, will then explore the surface of Mars for 90 days.
He should analyze rock samples and look for traces of past life, as well as for water and ice under the surface.
A ground penetrating radar is used.
The United Arab Emirates' Hope probe had also reached its orbit on Mars a few days ago.
The first interplanetary space mission of an Arab state should give the modernization of the Emirates a boost.
O-Ton Omran Al Sharaf Project Manager UAE Mission to Mars »From the head of the mission to all teams, to the people of the United Arab Emirates and the Arab and Islamic world: We announce that the UAE has successfully entered the orbit of the red planet. Thank God, thank God, thank God. "
In contrast to the other two missions, "Hope" is supposed to remain in orbit and not land on Mars.
