Later images from the rover will be higher-resolution. Percy itself can also be seen in the first image — its large shadow announcing its arrival.
Trending News
Trending News
More
NASA reveals first two photos of Mars taken by Perseverance
How NASA will bring Martian rocks back to Earth for first time ever
“Touchdown confirmed!”: NASA rover lands on Mars
Watch Live: NASA’s Perseverance rover landing on Mars
Everything to know about NASA’s Mars Ingenuity helicopter
The photos mark one of the rover’s first successes, and show the team on Earth that it made it to Mars safely. “Hello, world. ET from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California. “Touchdown confirmed! Perseverance is safely on the surface of Mars, ready to begin seeking the signs of past life!” Swati Mohan, a guidance, navigation and control officer monitoring telemetry at JPL, called out as the rover landed. NASA reveals first two photos of Mars taken by the Perseverance rover
By Sophie Lewis
February 19, 2021 / 8:20 AM
/ CBS News
NASA’s Perseverance rover lands on Mars
NASA’s Perseverance rover lands on Mars
06:39
Just minutes after NASA’s Perseverance rover stuck its landing on Mars, it sent back two historic images — our first-ever views of the red planet from the elusive Jezero Crater.
Percy, as the rover is nicknamed, got through the “seven minutes of terror” on Thursday — a series of make-or-break events to land. My first look at my forever home,” the rover tweeted upon arrival.
“And another look behind me. This is the first image NASA’s Perseverance rover sent back after touching down on Mars on Feb. The camera is partially obscured by a clear protective cover. Socially-distanced flight engineers burst into cheers and applause as they breathed a collective sigh of relief. A successful landing was announced just before 4 p.m. Just moments later, scientists received the rover’s first two pictures, showing a rocky view of the rover’s new home. The view, from one of Perseverance’s Hazard Cameras, is partially obscured by a dust cover. It will attempt the first powered flight in the thin Martian air, a “Wright brothers’ moment” on another world. Welcome to Jezero Crater,” the rover tweeted after landing.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
President Joe Biden watched the rover landing live from the White House. “Congratulations to NASA and everyone whose hard work made Perseverance’s historic landing possible,” he tweeted. Billions of years ago, the Jezero Crater was home to a large lake, and Percy will collect samples that will be the first to make the trek back to Earth for scientists to examine. During the first month, they also plan to test a small 4.5-pound, $80 million helicopter named Ingenuity. NASA/JPL-Caltech
One of the rover’s Hazard Avoidance Cameras, which primarily help with driving, snapped the black-and-white shots. 18, 2021. “Today proved once again that with the power of science and American ingenuity, nothing is beyond the realm of possibility.”
Scientists said they hope to view “pretty spectacular” video and audio footage, as well as additional photos, within the next few days. The rover, NASA’s most sophisticated to date, will soon begin its hunt for signs of ancient life. First published on February 19, 2021 / 8:20 AM
