Mars 2020 descent stage preparations. Technician working on the descent stage for NASA's Mars 2020 mission, in the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)'s Spacecraft Assembly Facility, Pasadena, California, USA. The Mars 2020 mission, scheduled for launch in July 2020, is aimed at placing the Mars 2020 rover on the surface of Mars. It is part of NASA's Mars Exploration Program. The entry, descent, and landing (EDL) system will be the same as used for the previous mission, the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL). A 'sky crane' mechanism will be used to deliver the rover to the surface after parachutes and thrusters slow and stabilise the descent stage. Image published in March 2018. |