BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — It’s going to be a busy week for Florida’s Space Coast as NASA readies the launch of a new rover mission to Mars followed by two astronauts’ return to Earth.
The Mars 2020 Perseverance rover will be blasted into space on board a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. The launch is scheduled for Thursday at 7:50 a.m. from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
WATCH: Mars rover Perseverance ready for launch from Space Coast
Monday afternoon, NASA officials will give an update on the final preparations ahead of Thursday’s mission to Mars.
NASA also plans to give updates throughout the week on everything around the Mars mission, including engineering details, science payloads and the process of returning samples from Mars to Earth.
We’re going back to Mars! @NASAPersevere will be launching soon for its seven-month journey to the Red Planet. And it’s bringing along a friend: a helicopter named Ingenuity!
— NASA (@NASA) July 26, 2020
Join us in wishing them “bon voyage” on their #CountdownToMars! https://t.co/aBRNGfpyWB pic.twitter.com/BdoP1UlFMg
NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover will search for signs of ancient life on the red planet, and should reach the surface of Mars by mid-February.
NASA is also planning the return of astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley over the weekend.
🚀 @Astro_Doug & @AstroBehnken made history during our #LaunchAmerica mission that lifted off on May 30.
— NASA (@NASA) July 27, 2020
Now that the duo is ready to depart the @Space_Station in @SpaceX's Dragon Endeavour spacecraft, here are 10 things to know about their return home: https://t.co/pdl36H15Yc pic.twitter.com/RjG4Uu49fT
Behnken and Hurley made history in May when they became the first astronauts launched from U.S. soil in nearly ten years after they flew to orbit inside a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.
Watch: SpaceX crewed rocket lifts off in historic launch
After two months at the International Space Station, the duo are expected to begin their journey back around 7:30 p.m. Saturday, with a splashdown off the coast of Florida Sunday afternoon.
When the Mars 2020 Perseverance launch and astronauts’ return missions happen, you can watch them live on Channel 9.
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