Missions to Mars

Earthlings have always had a fascination with Mars, our neighboring red planet.  As research and technology has progressed, space programs around the world have set their sights on sending human beings to Mars. Mankind is far from that goal, but every paper published, every rover landed, and every Martian habitat explored gets humans closer to this exploration.  Mars is currently only known to be inhabited by robots, and NASA is in the process of combing the planet's exterior with its next round of robotics: the Perseverance Rover and a companion helicopter, the first of its kind to be flown on Mars.  Professors from the Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Department (EAPS) of Purdue University have their scientific footprints on everything from the rovers of Mars, the atmosphere, the water, the ice, and even the moons.  As humans look to the skies and dream about one day exploring our neighboring planet, researchers at Purdue continue the work that could possibly make it happen.