Mission Timeline Summary
The Mars 2020 Perseverance rover launched July 30, 2020, at 4:50 a.m. PDT (7:50 a.m. EDT), and lands on Mars February 18, 2021. Surface operations last at least one Mars year (about 687 Earth days).
The phases of the Mars 2020 mission would include:
| Pre-launch Activities | Preparation for the mission, including pre-project planning, science definition and instrument selection, landing site selection, assembly and testing, and delivery to Cape Canaveral |
| Launch | Lift-off from Earth |
| Cruise | Voyage through space to Mars |
| Approach | Nearing the red planet Mars |
| Entry, Descent, and Landing | Journey through the Martian atmosphere to the surface |
| Instrument Checks and First Drive | After landing when engineers first conduct tests to ensure the rover is in a "safe state" |
| Surface Operations | Learning about Mars through the day-to-day activities of the rover |
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