Launch of NASA's Mars 2020 mission

From: Canadian Space Agency

Media advisory

Longueuil, Quebec,  — The Mars Perseverance rover is scheduled for launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on 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 mission.

Designed to better understand the geology and climate of Mars and seek signs of ancient life on the red planet, the Mars 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 asc.medias-media.csa@canada.ca.

Date Event Who

2:00 p.m. ET

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 ksc-newsroom@mail.nasa.gov no later than one hour prior to the event.
  • 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

7:00 a.m. ET (beginning of the broadcast)

The launch

Media representatives can connect to NASA TV to see live coverage of the launch.

  

More information

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Contact information

Canadian Space Agency
Media Relations Office
Telephone: 450-926-4370
Website: asc-csa.gc.ca
Email: ASC.Medias-Media.CSA@canada.ca
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