As the July 2020 launch date inches closer, the next spacecraft headed to the Red Planet is assembled for more testing.

The first helicopter to fly on Mars had its first flight on Earth.

In January, Mars 2020 engineers and technicians took over JPL's cleanroom to put the mission's cruise, entry capsule, descent stage and rover through their paces.

The MAVEN spacecraft today is starting a campaign to tighten its orbit around Mars to prepare to serve as a data-relay satellite for NASA's Mars 2020 rover, which launches next year.