The next generation Mars rover will carry out 7 experiments aimed at paving the way for manned missions. These experiments will first seek evidence of life and then store samples to be brought back to Earth.
Among the experiments is a device used for turning the CO2 that dominates the Martian atmosphere into oxygen. This data will be vital towards supporting human life and subsequently for producing rocket fuel and oxidizers for return missions.
The rover will also carry two cameras and an experimental weather station among its 40kg of instruments.
Instruments on the new rover will sample the planet's geology and atmosphere as well as making 3D movies
Mars 2020 rover
- Planned launch in July/August 2020
- Expected to land in 2021 after eight to nine month flight through space
- Total weight approximately 950kg
- Payload of seven scientific instruments weighing 40kg, worth $130m
- Closely modelled on Curiosity rover
The one-tonne, $1.9bn (£1.12bn) vehicle will be closely modelled on the Curiosity rover that has been in operation of the red planet since August 2012.
Its suite of instruments is downsized compared to Curiosity, which is carrying 165lb (75kg) of scientific kit. Some of that space will be used to package up cylindrical rock samples drilled from the planet's surface. NASA hopes these can be shipped home on future return flights.
Producing local oxygen is one of the most important and ambitious aspects of this mission, since transporting fuel from the Earth is heavy, expensive and not practically possible with today's launch systems. Other NASA spacecraft can already produce oxygen from CO2 but the new "MOXIE" device will test this capability in the Martian atmosphere for the first time.
This oxygen supply is essential if astronauts were to land on the planet for an eight month mission.
Could Mars support human life?
The 2020 rover will also carry a ground-penetrating radar for analyzing the planet's geology, two arm-mounted systems for analyzing the chemistry and structure of soil and rocks. These systems will be used to analyze and identify useful minerals that may be present beneath the Martian soil.
This exciting announcement comes in the same week that NASA's earlier Mars rover, Opportunity, clocked up a record-breaking total of 20 miles of extra-terrestrial driving since landing in 2004. The prospect of a human mission to Mars now looks to be closer to reality.