Remembering The Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover
A generation of Earthlings followed a generation of robots. What will follow this generation?
Decades ago on this date (Earth date, that is) a robot landed on the edge of Jezero Crater, which is now home to one of the largest enclosed arrondissements on Mars.
Of course, much has happened in the years that followed, including plenty of controversy in the development of Jezero itself. It can be easy to forget the more innocent days when only a handful of overbuilt robots rolled around the red regolith.
The Mars 2020 Perseverance rover provided the preliminary characterization of the Martian climate that would eventually be seized upon for the march towards terraforming and climate amplification.
The handful of samples that Perseverance collected but that never made it to Earth are now on display in the Jezero council offices, a symbol of a simpler, more idealistic time.
It would be good to get a little of that same spirit back today. Thanks, Perseverance for what you set out to accomplish, what you did achieve and for the pure intentions you brought with you to the Red Planet.
For everything else your discoveries set in motion, some people remain very thankful. Most of the rest, I’m sure, don’t hold grudges against robots. You’ll want to watch out for the few that aren’t shy about doing violence to a rover, though.
Stay safe, Perseverance, wherever it is they have you locked away for safe keeping.
- E.M., Founder and Editor-in-Chief
Sol 10,246 (currently Jezero Central)