SPARKS, Nev. -- Sierra Nevada Corp. (SNC) completed on-time delivery of multiple mission critical components for the NASA Mars 2020 mission, including the descent brake mechanism that gently lowers the rover onto the Martian surface.
Mars 2020 marks the 13th time SNC has provided NASA with hardware by which spacecraft orbit or land on the Martian surface.
In addition to the descent brake, SNC also delivered a number of actuators, including those used in the Sample Caching System including the Robotic Arm, the Coring Drill and Adaptive Caching Assembly, as well as the actuator that deploys an autonomous helicopter. Once deployed, the helicopter flight will mark the first time in history that an airborne craft will fly on another planet.
The Mars 2020 mission launches in July 2020 and addresses high-priority science goals for Mars exploration, including key questions about the potential for life on Mars.