Angie Jackman is NASA’s Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) project manager and the upcoming mission will revolutionize the agency’s understanding of the Red Planet by returning samples for study using the most sophisticated instruments around the world. These samples will be collected by Perseverance during its exploration of an ancient river delta and could be the best opportunity to reveal the early evolution of Mars, including the potential for life. Read more for a video and additional information.
Once a small ESA rover, called the Sample Fetch Rover, retrieves the cached samples, it will return to the lander platform and load them into a single large canister on the Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV). This vehicle will then perform the first liftoff from Mars and transport the container into orbit. Next, the ESA’s Earth Return Orbiter, set to launch on the next mission, will be timed to capture the basketball-size sample container orbiting Mars.
- Bring to life the rocket launch that took humans to the moon with the meter-high (approximately 1: 110 scale) model rocket of the NASA Apollo Saturn V
- The Saturn V rocket kit includes 3 removable rocket stages (first, s-ii second, and s-ivb third) below the launch escape system, command and service...
- After building the Saturn V rocket, you can display the spacecraft horizontally with 3 stands; The Lunar Lander docks with the command and service...
Together we are working to transform the Mars Ascent Vehicle from a drawing-board concept to an executable project. We went through exhaustive design iterations to reduce vehicle mass, ensure automated launch capability, and accurately achieve the orbit necessary to rendezvous with the Earth Return Orbiter and transfer samples for flight back to Earth,” said Angie Jackman.
