Smooth launch for NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover

The Perseverance rover mounted on an Atlas V rocket — provided by the United Launch Alliance (ULA), a spacecraft launch service provider — sits at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, US. Photo: ULA

The Atlas V rocket lifted off towards the red planet at 7:50 a.m. EDT (1150 GMT). NASA initially feared the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) would result in the Perseverance rover missing its three-week launch window. Photo: ULA

The liftoff was said to be an important victory for NASA, as a comparable opportunity would not come again until 2022, costing an extra $500 million, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine was quoted as saying by space.com. Photo: ULA

The mission, however, suffered a post-launch hiccup, with a glitch that sent the spacecraft into a protective ‘safe mode’. The spacecraft got a little colder than expected when passing through Earth’s shadow. Photo: ULA

The spacecraft will, however, return to a normal operations mode July 31, Matt Wallace, deputy programme manager for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), was quoted as saying by space.com. Photo: NASA / Joel Kowsky

The Perseverance rover will land on Mars’ Jerezo crater a little after 3.40 pm EST on February 18, 2021. Pictured here: An artist’s concept of the rover. Photo: NASA / JPL-Caltech

An illustration of the route the Mars mission will take to the red planet. This includes many trajectory correction manoeuvres to adjust its flight path. Photo: NASA / JPL-Caltech