Voyager Lecture Series: Perserverance on Mars, presented by Ron Smith

The question of life on Mars has always vexed astronomers. 45 years ago Viking 1 and 2 spacecraft landed on the Red Planet looking for chemical activity that might indicate past or present life. Although chemical activity was found, results of life were not able to be determined.

Since the Viking results were obscure, a new approach has been taken with a series of landers and orbiters. We now know that Mars had a watery, earth-like past.

Perseverance, the newest Mars rover, initiates a new approach to answer the life on Mars question. By examining rocks in an ancient river delta, Perseverance might be able to find fossils of ancient Martian organisms.

Allow Ron Smith to be your guide into fully describing the Perseverance mission, and why hopes run high for us to find evidence for life on Mars.