The Mars 2020 rover is based on the Mars Science Laboratory’s Curiosity rover configuration. It is car-sized, about 10 feet long (not including the arm), 9 feet wide, and 7 feet tall (about 3 meters long, 2.7 meters wide, and 2.2 meters tall). But at 2,314 pounds (1,050 kilograms), it weighs less than a compact car.
In some sense, the rover parts are similar to what any living creature would need to keep it “alive” and able to explore.
The Mars 2020 Rover Has The Following Parts:
- body: a structure that protects the rover’s “vital organs”
- brains: computers to process information
- temperature controls: internal heaters, a layer of insulation, and more
- “neck and head”: a mast for the cameras to give the rover a human-scale view
- eyes and ears : cameras and instruments that give the rover information about its environment
- arm and “hand”: a way to extend its reach and collect rock samples for study
- wheels and legs: parts for mobility
- electrical power: batteries and power
- communications: antennas for “speaking” and “listening”
Some Facts About NASA’s Mars 2020 Mission
Launch Window
July 17 – Aug. 5, 2020
Launch Location
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
Landing
Feb. 18, 2021
Landing Site
Jezero Crater, Mars
Mission Duration
At least one Mars year (about 687 Earth days)
Science Phage 