The NASA Perseverance rover landed at Mars' Jezero Crater on Thursday. The touchdown came nearly seven months after its takeoff to the Red Planet.

Perseverance becomes the fifth NASA rover to ever touch down on Mars after Sojourner, twin rovers Spirit and Opportunity and Curiosity.

Perseverance will spend the coming years scouring for signs of ancient microbial life in a historic mission that will bring back samples from Mars to Earth and prepare the way for future human visitors.

Story Date: February 19, 2021