# Mars 2020

> Mars mission by NASA, with rover named "Perseverance" and helicopter named "Ingenuity"

**Wikidata**: [Q1526343](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1526343)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_2020)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/mars-2020

## Summary
Mars 2020 is a NASA mission to Mars featuring the Perseverance rover and the Ingenuity helicopter. Launched on July 30, 2020, it successfully landed on the planet on February 18, 2021.

## Key Facts
- Mars 2020 is classified as a space probe, an unmanned robotic spacecraft that explores outer space beyond Earth's orbit.
- The mission launched on July 30, 2020, at 11:50:00 from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 41.
- The rover successfully soft-landed on February 18, 2021, at a site named Octavia E. Butler Landing.
- Mars 2020 has a launch weight of 4,061 kilograms and was primarily manufactured by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Boeing, and Lockheed Martin.
- The mission consists of two main components: the Perseverance rover and the Ingenuity helicopter.
- The spacecraft was launched using an Atlas V 541 launch vehicle (AV-088) provided by United Launch Alliance.
- The mission has a COSPAR ID of 2020-052A and a NAIF ID of -168.
- NASA is the operator of the Mars 2020 mission, which has an official website at https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/.

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of the Mars 2020 mission?
A: Mars 2020 was designed to search for signs of ancient microbial life on Mars, collect and cache rock and soil samples, and prepare for future human exploration of the planet.

### Q: When did the Mars 2020 mission launch and land?
A: The mission launched on July 30, 2020, and successfully landed on Mars on February 18, 2021, at the Octavia E. Butler Landing site.

### Q: What makes the Ingenuity helicopter special?
A: Ingenuity was the first aircraft to achieve controlled, powered flight on another planet, demonstrating the possibility of aerial exploration on Mars.

### Q: How does Mars 2020 differ from previous Mars missions?
A: Unlike previous missions, Mars 2020 included both a sophisticated rover and a helicopter, and was specifically designed to collect samples that could potentially be returned to Earth for analysis.

## Why It Matters
Mars 2020 represents a significant advancement in planetary exploration, expanding our understanding of Mars' geological history and potential for past life. The mission's Ingenuity helicopter achieved the first powered flight on another planet, opening new possibilities for aerial exploration. The Perseverance rover continues to collect and cache samples that could eventually be returned to Earth, addressing fundamental questions about whether life ever existed on Mars. This mission builds upon previous Mars exploration efforts while establishing new technological capabilities for future robotic and human missions to the Red Planet.

## Notable For
- First controlled, powered flight on another planet achieved by the Ingenuity helicopter in April 2021
- Advanced sample collection system designed to preserve Martian rock and soil samples for potential return to Earth
- Sophisticated scientific instruments for analyzing Mars' geology and searching for signs of ancient microbial life
- Autonomous navigation capabilities that allow the rover to traverse challenging Martian terrain
- The use of the MOXIE instrument, which demonstrated the production of oxygen from the Martian atmosphere

## Body
### Mission Overview
Mars 2020 is a NASA space probe mission to Mars, featuring the Perseverance rover and the Ingenuity helicopter. It is an unmanned robotic spacecraft designed to explore Mars beyond Earth's orbit. The mission has a COSPAR ID of 2020-052A and a NAIF ID of -168. The official NASA website for the mission is https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/.

### Launch and Landing
The Mars 2020 mission launched on July 30, 2020, at 11:50:00 from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 41 using an Atlas V 541 launch vehicle (AV-088) provided by United Launch Alliance. The spacecraft successfully performed a soft landing on Mars on February 18, 2021, at the Octavia E. Butler Landing site. The launch vehicle was operated by United Launch Alliance, with the primary launch contractors being Boeing and Lockheed Martin.

### Technical Specifications
- Mass: 4,061 kilograms (launch weight)
- Classification: Space probe
- Country of origin: United States
- Operator: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Main manufacturer: Jet Propulsion Laboratory (also with Boeing and Lockheed Martin as manufacturers)

### Mission Components
The Mars 2020 mission consists of two primary components:
- Perseverance: The main rover designed to explore Mars' surface, collect samples, and conduct scientific experiments
- Ingenuity: A small helicopter rotorcraft that achieved the first controlled, powered flight on another planet

### Scientific Objectives
The mission aims to:
- Search for signs of ancient microbial life on Mars
- Collect and cache rock and soil samples for potential return to Earth
- Study Mars' geology and climate history
- Prepare for future human exploration of the planet

### Identifiers and Aliases
- COSPAR ID: 2020-052A
- NSSDCA ID: 2020-052A
- NAIF ID: -168
- Aliases: Mars 2020 Rover Mission, Mars2020, M2020, Mars rover 2020, Mission Mars 2020, 火星2020, Mars 2020, بعثة روفر إلى المريخ, بعثة مارس 2020
- Hashtag: Mars2020
- Wikipedia title: Mars 2020
- Commons category: Mars 2020

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Mars 2020 Perseverance trajectory reconstruction and performance from launch through landing
3. [Source](https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/)
4. [Source](https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/horizons.cgi)