The world is getting a new look at one of its neighbours in the solar system as NASA releases new footage from its Perseverance rover.
It has been just over a week since Perseverance touched down successfully on the surface of Mars, and already the rover has sent back high-resolution images, video and now audio.
On Monday, the Twitter account for the rover, @NASAPersevere, posted an audio clip from the fourth planet from the sun, along with a link to a gallery with more recordings.
Now that you’ve seen Mars, hear it. Grab some headphones and listen to the first sounds captured by one of my microphones. 🎧https://t.co/JswvAWC2IP#CountdownToMars
— NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) February 22, 2021
The U.S. space agency also shared footage of the landing craft’s descent, providing a stunning view of Mars’ surface and offering viewers a front-row seat to the experience.
“This video of Perseverance’s descent is the closest you can get to landing on Mars without putting on a pressure suit,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA associate administrator for science.
“It should become mandatory viewing for young women and men who not only want to explore other worlds and build the spacecraft that will take them there, but also want to be part of the diverse teams achieving all the audacious goals in our future.”
Your front-row seat to my Mars landing is here. Watch how we did it.#CountdownToMars pic.twitter.com/Avv13dSVmQ
— NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) February 22, 2021
NASA is hoping that Perseverance will be operating for one Mars year — roughly two Earth years.
However, past experience has shown incredible longevity for the American agency’s Martian craft, with the rovers Opportunity and Curiosity far exceeding their expected lifespans.
Opportunity was expected to operate for three months but ended up lasting over 14 years, while Curiosity outlived its two-year mission and will mark nine years in operation in August.
