Public invited to Mars rover landing virtual after-party

Los Alamos National Laboratory hosts online event to celebrate historic landing

February 16, 2021

Middle Lanl’s Instruments Play Crucial Role in Rover’s Mission
An illustration of NASA’s Perseverance on the surface of Mars. NASA/JPL-Caltech

Media Advisory

LOS ALAMOS, N.M., Feb. 16, 2021—The public is invited to a free Mars Perseverance landing after-party hosted by Los Alamos National Laboratory on Thursday, Feb. 18, 6 p.m. MST. Due to COVID restrictions, the event will take place online.

The after-party is a chance to celebrate the landing of NASA’s Perseverance rover on Mars and learn more about Los Alamos National Laboratory’s role in the mission. This hour-long virtual event will feature presentations by more than a dozen Los Alamos scientists and engineers who helped develop SuperCam, the rock-vaporizing laser that will study the Martian surface for signs of past life, and SHERLOC, the instrument that will search for organics and minerals on Mars. The plutonium heat source that powers the rover will also be discussed.

The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.