One of the main objectives of the Mars 2020 mission is to collect and cache a set of carefully selected samples of Martian rocks and soil that have the potential to preserve evidence of past life. The rover is equipped with a sophisticated sampling system that allows it to drill into the Martian surface, extract rock cores, and seal them in sample tubes for later retrieval.
The Mars 2020 mission is also designed to pave the way for future human missions to Mars by testing out technologies that will be essential for future human explorers, such as a sophisticated autonomous navigation system, a system for producing oxygen from the Martian atmosphere, and a system for growing plants in the Martian environment.
The samples collected by the Mars 2020 rover will be returned to Earth through a complex series of missions that will involve a sample retrieval lander, an ascent vehicle, and an Earth return orbiter. The sample return missions are scheduled to take place in 2026 and 2033.
Once the samples are back on Earth, they will be extensively studied by scientists in a dedicated Mars Sample Receiving Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The analysis of these samples will help scientists better understand the history of Mars, the potential for life on Mars, and the geology and evolution of the red planet.
The Mars 2020 mission is a major undertaking that represents the culmination of years of planning, research, and development. The successful execution of this mission will bring humanity one step closer to understanding the history of our solar system and our place in the universe.
