Media Advisory - Launch of NASA's Mars 2020 mission Français

News provided by

Jul 28, 2020, 09:30 ET

LONGUEUIL, QC, July 28, 2020 /CNW/ - The Mars 2020 Perseverance rover is scheduled for launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on July 30 at 7:50 a.m. ET.

Canada is taking part in this exciting next chapter of Mars exploration. The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is funding Dr. Chris Herd, professor of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Alberta, who is participating as a scientist on the Mars 2020 mission.

Designed to better understand the geology and climate of Mars and seek signs of ancient life on the red planet, the Mars 2020 mission will be the first to collect, seal, and store a set of rock and soil samples on the red planet for possible return to Earth.

Canadian media may contact the CSA Media Relations Office for interviews with CSA representatives at [email protected].

Media Briefing

NASA will hold a Sample Return briefing to provide an overview of upcoming activities. The event will be broadcast on NASA TV (all channels). To participate by telephone, media representatives must send an e-mail to [email protected] no later than one hour prior to the event.

Date:	July 28, 2020

Time:	2:00 p.m. (ET)

Who:	Chris Herd, returned sample science participating scientist,
	University of Alberta
	Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator, NASA's Science Mission Directorate
	David Parker, director of human and robotic exploration, ESA (European Space Agency)
	Jeff Gramling, NASA Mars Sample Return Program director
	Julie Townsend, sampling and caching operations lead, JPL
	Lisa Pratt, NASA planetary protection officer