Here is how the landing of Perseverance is supposed to appear when it happens Thursday afternoon on Mars. Artwork provided.

Staff Report

HOUSTON — NASA’s Perseverance, the largest and most composite rover to ever be sent to Mars, is scheduled for landing at approximately 3:55 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18.

During landing, the rover will enter the Martian atmosphere at more than 12,000 mph. A parachute and powered descent will slow the rover down to about 2 mph.

The public may view a live-stream of the event on NASA TV. Coverage will begin at 2:15 p.m. 

Perseverance will be the first mission to attempt to gather rock samples to bring back to Earth. In addition, it will look for signs of ancient alien life, secure sounds from Mars using microphones and launch the first helicopter on the planet.

Live coverage and landing commentary from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California will begin at 2:15 p.m. on the NASA TV Public Channel and the agency’s website, as well as the NASA App, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitch, Daily Motion and THETA.TV.

The agency’s first-ever Spanish-language show for a planetary landing may be viewed at 2:30 p.m. Thursday.  NASA will air “Juntos perseveramos,” a show that will give viewers an overview of the mission to Mars and highlight the role Hispanic NASA professionals have had in its success.