Specialists from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory launched an online broadcast of the new Mars rover assembly for the Mars 2020 mission. Now everyone will be able to observe all the actions of engineers preparing the rover for the launch, which will take place in a year, according to the JPL website.
The start of the mission "Mars 2020" is scheduled for July 2020, and landing on the surface of the planet should take place in February 2021. A rover created on the basis of the “Curiosity” design will go to Mars: it is equipped with a whole arsenal of scientific instruments and 23 cameras. Also, Mars Helicopter unmanned aerial vehicle will fly to Mars.
As part of the program, it is planned to assess the conditions on ancient Mars and find possible traces of the microorganisms living there, as well as study the geological processes on the planet and test technologies that can be used in the possible landing of people on the planet.
The vehicles will operate in the 45-kilometer crater of Jezero, which lies to the west of the Isis plain and north of the equator. This is one of the most ancient areas on Mars, interesting from a geological point of view: it was located river delta, which flows into the lake. It is assumed that in this area the rover will be able to find at least five different types of rocks, including clay minerals and carbonates, which could save traces of ancient Martian life.
Currently, the rover is being actively assembled in the High Bay 1 sterile room at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. A webcam was installed in the room, which continuously broadcasts all the actions of engineers and technicians working with the rover. Sound recording is not provided, but during the periods from Monday to Thursday in the afternoon and in the evening in the chat you can ask questions to specialists.