With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
We Got A Sneak Peek At JPL's Mars 2020 Rover Before It Heads To Its Launch Site, And It's Rad
The Mars 2020 Rover inside the clean room at JPL in Pasadena. (Robert Garrova / LAist)
()
Move over Opportunity and Spirit. It's time for the new Mars 2020 rover to step into the spotlight. On Friday, JPL gave a rare media tour to show off the interplanetary robotic vehicle to reporters inside a meticulous dust, hair and oil-free "clean room." It's the last time it will be viewed before it's shipped off to Florida for its July liftoff.
That meant this reporter had to don a full body "bunny" suit and take an air bath with jets to blow away any wayward dust or hair left on the suit.
It took a lot of time and trouble, but NASA's Dave Gruel said it's crucial to keep the rover from getting contaminated.
"It'll be a real bad day for us in the future if those samples come back from Mars and guess what? They've got my whisker in that sample," Gruel said. "That'll be bad."
Support for LAist comes from
Suited up, we were guided into a vast white hangar. Inside, about the size of a Mini Cooper, was the rover itself. The layout of wires and instruments made it look like a modern art piece -- and maybe a little too delicate to spend time rolling over rocks 140 million miles away from home.
Michelle Colizzi, who's spent five years working on the mission, was one of the engineers showing us around.
Mars 2020 descent stage engineer Michelle Colizzi stands beside the craft which will lower the rover onto the surface of Mars. (Robert Garrova / LAist)
()
"It's very, very exciting to see all the hardware come together," she said.
Colizzi spent most of her time working on the descent stage. That's when eight rockets will slow the rover from 200 miles per hour to two miles per hour in a matter of seconds. Then a tether will lower the robot onto the surface of Mars.
"[It's] kind of a crazy idea to begin with," Colizzi said. "But the engineers executed it really well. It gives us an opportunity to actually land on the wheels, ready to start driving."
Once wheels are on the ground of Mars' Jezero crater, the rover will use high-resolution cameras, a laser and a drill to collect and analyze samples. It can do all of that thanks to the nuclear battery it will have on board.
Support for LAist comes from
And unlike previous missions, this will be the first rover with the goal of searching for signs of past life.
An aerial view of the clean room that houses the Mars 2020 rover at JPL in Pasadena.
()
Its designers hope it will be able to explore the surface of the red planet for at least one Mars year (that's about two earth years).
The prospect has people at JPL both excited and a bit emotional.
"I've been wanting to work on things that go to space since I was in the third grade. So this is really a dream come true for me," said mechanical engineer Steve Barajas. The Mars 2020 rover will be Barajas' first robot to leave the earth nest.
If all goes as planned, this rover will get rolling in February of 2021.
And if you're bummed that "Mars 2020 rover" doesn't have the ring of say Opportunity or Spirit, don't worry, schools across the nation are competing in a Name the Rover Contest.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The historic properties have been sitting vacant for decades and were put on the market as-is, with prices ranging from $750,000 to $1.75 million. -
Users of the century old Long Beach wooden boardwalk give these suggestions to safely enjoy it. -
The Newport Beach City Council approved a new artificial surf park that will replace part of an aging golf course. -
The utility, whose equipment is believed to have sparked the Eaton Fire, says payouts could come as quickly as four months after people submit a claim. But accepting the money means you'll have to forego any lawsuits. -
The City Council will vote Tuesday on a proposal to study raising the pay for construction workers on apartments with at least 10 units and up to 85 feet high. -
The study found recipients spent nearly all the money on basic needs like food and transportation, not drugs or alcohol.
Best of LAist