After nearly 10 years of hard work, NASA’s most advanced robotic explorer is ready for its first trip to Mars. Perseverance’s mission is to investigate potentially habitable places on Mars that could have supported ancient life, as well as exploring the geological and climate history of the planet to help us learn about Earth’s future. This will all take place in the most treacherous landing site, Jezero Crater, that is filled with boulders and cliffs. This crater is said to once have been the site of an ancient lake and river delta 3.9 billion years ago.

Perseverance was set to launch in July of 2020, but because of the global pandemic it was pushed back to February of 2021. The rover carries an aluminum plate that shows tribute to health care workers around the world in light of the pandemic. There is an ancient symbol of the serpent entwined around a rod to represent the global medical community. There is also a line that represents the rover’s trajectory from Florida to Mars.

“We wanted to demonstrate our appreciation for those who have put their personal well-being on the line for the good of others,” said Matt Wallace, Perseverance deputy project manager. “It is our hope that when future generations travel to Mars and happen upon our rover, they will be reminded that back on Earth in the year 2020 there will be such people.”