NASA to Discuss Next Mars Rover on Facebook Live

NASA will host a Facebook Live event at 1 p.m. EDT today, July 15. It will talk about the science and technology aboard NASA’s next Mars rover, Mars 2020, and the significant step the agency is taking on its Journey to Mars, proceeding with final design and construction of the robotic explorer.

During the event, viewers will get a glimpse of the Mars Yard and rock drilling facility at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, and can ask questions during the program via Facebook.

Participants will be:

• Kenneth Farley, Mars 2020 project scientist at Caltech in Pasadena
• Matt Robinson, Mars 2020 sampling and caching team deputy manager at JPL
• Allen Chen, Mars 2020 entry, descent and landing lead at JPL

The event can be viewed live on NASA’s Facebook page. The event also will air on NASA Television and stream on the agency’s website.

Mars 2020, which has just passed a major development milestone, will look for signs of past life in a region of Mars where the ancient environment is believed to have been favorable for microbial life.

It will collect samples of Martian rock and soil that a potential future mission could return to Earth for analysis. It also will assess Mars’ geology and modern environment, providing context for other investigations.

These studies will address high priority goals for planetary science and further aid NASA’s preparations for a human mission to the Red Planet.

Photo courtesy: NASA