NASA begins testing robots to bring soil from Mars

NASA engineers have begun testing for a robotic mission to retrieve geological samples from Mars.

The Perseverance Wagon is currently collecting rock samples, which are hermetically sealed and placed in a container. At the moment, 4 out of 43 cells are filled in the container, and eventually, it will be placed on the surface of the planet, where it will be picked up by a robotic device and sent to Earth.

Now the system of these robotic vehicles is under development, engineers are testing individual components. In particular, the landing pads of the landing module are being tested, which, if launched now, would become the largest and heaviest lander on Mars. It will weigh about 2,400 kilograms, and engineers do low-altitude testing to make sure the struts will withstand strong impact.