HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Three-hundred million miles later and NASA's "Perseverance" rover has made it to Mars. The country celebrates, including scientists and experts here in the Rocket City.
This most advanced robotic rover yet that landed in Mars is one for the history books and it opens doors to the possibility of a whole new world. Scientists and experts say this only scratches the surface.
"It's always just a real big exciting technological accomplishment on top of all of the fantastic discoveries we hope to make with the mission," says Chief Scientist of Marshall Space Flight Center, Renee Weber.
Weber knows the feeling. She's part of another mission to Mars that successfully landed more than two years ago.
"I am involved on a 'Mars Insight Mission' which is another mission to the Red Planet, and also the closest landing site, the closest currently active spacecraft on Mars to the 'Perseverance' landing site," says Weber.
While 'Perseverance' focuses on collecting samples, 'Insight' focuses on the interior of the planet.
"Insight is looking at the structure of the planet, and in a way the structure of the planet is relevant to its ability to host life," says Weber.
Planetary experts at U.S. Space and Rocket Center say this is an exciting opportunity.
"Every new chance you get, to do down to the other surface another and get data up close and personal and up close in robotic is a very exciting thing," U.S. Space & Rocket Center INTUITIVE Planetarium Director, David Weigel.
"Mars 2020 is one mission that's part of a much larger NASA portfolio of missions both to Mars and to other planets and all other planetary scientists tend to support and show interest to the work of their peers and colleagues," says Weber.