NASA’s Perseverance and China’s Tianwen-1 set to land on Mars

NASA’s Perseverance and China’s Tianwen-1 set to land on Mars

Part of: GS Prelims and GS – III – Space; Sci & Tech

In news

• NASA’s Perseverance and China’s Tianwen-1 are set to land on Mars on February 18 and in May 2021 respectively.

NASA’s Perseverance Rover

• It is the most sophisticated Mission. 
• It is set to land at Jezero Crater, which was likely filled with water in the past.
• It is NASA’s 4th generation, Mars Rover. 
• Goal: To look for biosignatures in the dried-up lake bed at Jezero Crater.

Tianwen-1

• Tianwen-1 is the first mission to Mars from China. 
• It carries an orbiter, a lander, and a rover. 
• It will orbit Mars for a few months before attempting to land in May this year.