This summer, three missions are setting out on a journey of millions of miles. Bound for Mars, the trio carry an array of state-of-the-art instruments to explore the red planet.

Hope was the first spacecraft to launch to Mars this summer, and the first Mars mission for the United Arab Emirates.

The orbiter will observe Mars from space, forming a detailed picture of the planets atmosphere and its weather with a suite of imaging devices. A camera will capture high-resolution images of the planet. An infrared spectrometer will study dust, ice clouds, water vapor and temperature in the lower atmosphere. And an ultraviolet spectrometer will investigate carbon monoxide, hydrogen and oxygen in the upper atmosphere.

ANTENNA

A six-foot antenna will communicate with Earth

THERMAL BLANKET

A protective layer of insulation around the orbiter gives it a gold appearance

SOLAR PANELS

Will unfurl after launch and charge the onboard battery

Hope is about as tall as a person and weighs almost 3,000 pounds

CAMERA

Will capture high-resolution images of Mars

Infrared Spectrometer

Will study dust, ice clouds, water vapor and temperature in the lower atmosphere

ULTRAVIOLET SPECTROMETER

Will investigate carbon monoxide, hydrogen and oxygen in the upper atmosphere

ANTENNA

A six-foot antenna will communicate with Earth

THERMAL BLANKET

To protect from extreme temperatures

Hope is about as tall as a person and weighs almost 3,000 pounds

SOLAR PANELS

Will charge the onboard battery

Hope is about as tall as a person

Source: Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center

China is sending an orbiter, lander and rover to Mars the only mission this year to attempt a three-pronged exploration. After the spacecraft reaches Mars, the landing pod will detach from the orbiter and descend to the planets surface. The orbiter will remain in space and observe the planet using seven instruments.

A parachute attached to the landers protective shell will slow the descent. Next, a set of struts will deploy midair. A thruster attached to the bottom of the lander will also help guide the vehicle to a softer landing.

Once on the surface, a ramp will slide out so the rover can drive away. The rover has two sets of solar panel wings that will unfurl after landing.

Lander

A parachute attached to a protective SHELL will slow the landers descent. Next, a set of STRUTS will deploy midair. Once on the surface, a RAMP will slide out so the rover can drive off.

Orbiter

After the orbiter reaches Mars, the landing probe will detach and descend to the planets surface.

Rover

Four solar panel wings will unfurl after landing.

Orbiter

After the orbiter reaches Mars, the landing probe will detach and descend to the planets surface.

Lander

A parachute attached to a protective SHELL will slow the descent. Next, a set of STRUTS will deploy midair. After landing, a RAMP will slide out so the rover can drive off.

Rover

With four solar panels

Orbiter

After the orbiter reaches Mars, the landing probe will detach and descend to the planets surface.

Lander

A parachute attached to the SHELL will slow the descent. Next, four STRUTS will deploy midair. After landing, a RAMP will slide out so the rover can drive off.

Rover

Four solar panel wings will unfurl after landing.

Source: China National Space Administration and China Central Television

The NASA mission includes Perseverance, a 2,200-pound rover, and Ingenuity, an experimental Mars helicopter. The Ingenuity helicopter weighs about four pounds, and will be the first to attempt powered flight on another planet.

The Perseverance rovers design is based on Curiosity, a successful NASA mission that landed on Mars in 2012. The plutonium power supply is designed to last more than a decade. The rover carries 19 cameras and a drill to extract core samples from rocks.

Perseverance also uses a suspension system to drive over obstacles. The rover can turn a full 360 degrees in place, using six individually motorized aluminum wheels.

Ingenuity Helicopter

The four-pound aircraft will communicate wirelessly with the Perseverance rover.

Blades

Four carbon-fiber blades will spin at about 2,400 r.p.m.

Power

The plutonium-based power supply will charge the rovers batteries.

MAST

Instruments will take videos, panoramas and photographs. A laser will study the chemistry of Martian rocks.

PiXl

Will identify chemical elements to seek signs of past life on Mars.

Antenna

Will transmit data directly to Earth.

Robotic arm

A turret with many instruments is attached to a 7-foot robotic arm. A drill will extract samples from Martian rocks. The Sherloc device will identify molecules and minerals to detect potential biosignatures, with help from the Watson camera.

Perseverance Rover

The 2,200 pound rover will explore Jezero Crater. It has aluminum wheels and a suspension system to drive over obstacles.

Ingenuity Helicopter

The aircraft will communicate wirelessly with the rover.

Power

The plutonium-based power supply will charge the rovers batteries.

MAST

Instruments will take videos, panoramas and photographs. A laser will study the chemistry of Martian rocks.

PiXl

Will identify chemical elements to seek signs of past life on Mars.

Robotic arm

A turret with many instruments is attached to a 7-foot robotic arm. A drill will extract samples from Martian rocks. The Sherloc device will identify molecules and minerals to detect potential biosignatures, with help from the Watson camera.

Perseverance Rover

The 2,200 pound rover will explore Jezero Crater. It has aluminum wheels and a suspension system to drive over obstacles.

Robotic arm

A turret with many instruments is attached to a 7-foot robotic arm. A drill will extract samples from Martian rocks. The Sherloc device will identify molecules and minerals to detect potential biosignatures, with help from the Watson camera. PiXl will identify chemical elements to seek signs of past life on Mars.

Source: NASA

Once all of the missions have launched, their expected arrival at Mars is in February. The trio will join dozens of other spacecraft, past and present, already hurtling through our solar system.

See the article here:

Meet the 3 Spacecraft Heading to Mars This Summer - The New York Times