NASA Releases First Video and Color Photos from Mars Explorer
2021-02-26
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1The U.S. space agency NASA has released the first video, pictures and sound captured by its Mars explorer Perseverance.
2The video shows the explorer, or rover, at different points during its landing on the Red Planet last week.
3Some members of the Perseverance team said the video and images were even better than they had expected.
4"It gives me goose bumps every time I see it, just amazing," said Dave Gruel.
5He is head of the spacecraft's landing camera team.
6Al Chen heads the Perseverance landing team.
7He called the pictures and video "the stuff of our dreams."
8Six color cameras were positioned to capture all stages of the landing.
9NASA said the cameras started when the rover was about 11 kilometers above the surface of Mars.
10Flight controllers were also pleased with the thousands of images that Perseverance sent back to Earth.
11They said the rover was in very good condition after the landing.
12Perseverance landed in an area of Mars called Jezero Crater, just north of the planet's equator.
13The area contains a large ancient lakebed.
14The six-wheeled explorer's main mission is to collect Martian soil and rocks to help scientists search for signs of ancient life.
15NASA added 25 cameras to the Perseverance mission -- the most ever sent to Mars.
16The space agency's last rover, 2012′s Curiosity, is only able to produce lower-quality images of the planet's surface.
17NASA said it also received sound from Perseverance.
18A microphone attached to the rover was not able to collect usable data during the actual landing.
19But it did record sounds from Jerezo Crater after it touched down.
20NASA said that about 10 seconds into a 60-second recording, Martian wind can be heard for a few seconds.
21Equipment sounds were also captured as the rover operated on the surface.
22The video and images provided NASA with the possibility to see the effectiveness of spacecraft systems - some of which could not be tested on Earth.
23"So this is the first time we've had a chance as engineers to actually see what we designed," said Matt Wallace, a project official with NASA's Mars 2020 program.
24Thomas Zurbuchen is NASA's science mission chief.
25He said the video and panoramic pictures that Perseverance captured "are the closest you can get to landing on Mars without putting on a pressure suit."
26NASA engineers say the images will help the agency prepare for astronaut flights to Mars in the future.
27But, imaging scientist Justin Maki noted that the pictures and videos can offer more immediate help, as well.
28"I know it's been a tough year for everybody," Maki said.
29"And we're hoping that maybe these images will help brighten people's days."
30I'm Bryan Lynn.
1The U.S. space agency NASA has released the first video, pictures and sound captured by its Mars explorer Perseverance. 2The video shows the explorer, or rover, at different points during its landing on the Red Planet last week. 3Some members of the Perseverance team said the video and images were even better than they had expected. "It gives me goose bumps every time I see it, just amazing," said Dave Gruel. He is head of the spacecraft's landing camera team. 4Al Chen heads the Perseverance landing team. He called the pictures and video "the stuff of our dreams." 5Six color cameras were positioned to capture all stages of the landing. NASA said the cameras started when the rover was about 11 kilometers above the surface of Mars. 6Flight controllers were also pleased with the thousands of images that Perseverance sent back to Earth. They said the rover was in very good condition after the landing. 7Perseverance landed in an area of Mars called Jezero Crater, just north of the planet's equator. The area contains a large ancient lakebed. The six-wheeled explorer's main mission is to collect Martian soil and rocks to help scientists search for signs of ancient life. 8NASA added 25 cameras to the Perseverance mission -- the most ever sent to Mars. The space agency's last rover, 2012′s Curiosity, is only able to produce lower-quality images of the planet's surface. 9NASA said it also received sound from Perseverance. A microphone attached to the rover was not able to collect usable data during the actual landing. But it did record sounds from Jerezo Crater after it touched down. 10NASA said that about 10 seconds into a 60-second recording, Martian wind can be heard for a few seconds. Equipment sounds were also captured as the rover operated on the surface. 11The video and images provided NASA with the possibility to see the effectiveness of spacecraft systems - some of which could not be tested on Earth. "So this is the first time we've had a chance as engineers to actually see what we designed," said Matt Wallace, a project official with NASA's Mars 2020 program. 12Thomas Zurbuchen is NASA's science mission chief. He said the video and panoramic pictures that Perseverance captured "are the closest you can get to landing on Mars without putting on a pressure suit." 13NASA engineers say the images will help the agency prepare for astronaut flights to Mars in the future. But, imaging scientist Justin Maki noted that the pictures and videos can offer more immediate help, as well. 14"I know it's been a tough year for everybody," Maki said. "And we're hoping that maybe these images will help brighten people's days." 15I'm Bryan Lynn. 16Bryan Lynn wrote this story based on reports from NASA, The Associated Press and Reuters. Ashley Thompson was the editor. 17We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 18Words in This Story 19goose bumps - v. a roughness on the skin produced by a sudden feeling of cold, fear or excitement 20mission - n. the flight of a spacecraft to perform a task or job 21panoramic - adj. a very wide view of something 22tough - adj. difficult