JPL Lands Perseverance Rover on Mars

Mission Control at Jet Propulsion Laboratory roared with jubilation Thursday as the Perseverance Mars rover sent back word that it had landed safely on the Red Planet.

“Touchdown confirmed on the surface of Mars,” an excited voice announced.

The landing took place at 12:55 p.m. at Jezero Crater, just as anticipated.

After entering the Martian atmosphere at 12,100 mph, reaching temperatures of more than 2,300 degrees, Perseverance deployed its parachutes.

The rover then ditched the parachutes and used rockets to descend softly to the surface, lowered down the final few meters by a tether.

Acting NASA Administrator Steve Jurczyk commended the team on their success, describing it as “an amazing day.”

Now that the rover has landed, its mission of exploration can begin. JPL Director Mike Watkins said he expected exciting new science from the mission.

Among Perseverance’s numerous tasks, it will store samples of Martian rocks and soil to be retrieved by a future mission.