NASA is making the final preparations for their Mars 2020 mission, and the latest test has taken the team, along with a rover, to Iceland’s lava fields. The landscape at the Lambahraun lava field, which stands at Iceland’s second biggest glacier, Langjokull, is consists of black basalt sand, wind-swept dunes, craggy peaks, and just about everything you’d expect to see on another planet.
Fifteen NASA scientists and engineers will spend three weeks at the site, which is located approximately 62-miles from the capital, Reykjavik. The rover prototype runs on two motors powered by a dozen car batteries, and is designed to be completely weather resistant. While it’s no speed demon, this rover is much quicker than others that have descended on Mars, with a top speed of 0.5 mph – Curiosity tops out at 0.08 mph.
- Feed a passion for science and technology – Kids can learn more about the challenges of space exploration with this LEGO Technic NASA Mars Rover...
- Conduct a test flight – This advanced building kit for kids ages 10 and up includes a buildable toy version of NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter, which...
- AR brings the mission to life – The accompanying augmented reality app experience lets kids dive into the details of the rover and its mission
