Mars 2020 spacecraft descending to Mars, illustration. It's landing target is Jezero crater (ringed in yellow). The spacecraft's heat shield protects it as it enters the Martian atmosphere and friction heats it to over 1,000 degrees Celsius. After approximately four minutes the parachute is deployed and the heat shield jettisoned. When a safe landing place has been selected by the onboard camera, the rocket-powered descent stage will initiate the sky crane manoeuvre to safely land the Perseverance rover on the surface. Perseverance will study the geology of Mars and search for signs of life. Mars 2020 launched on 30th July 2020 and is expected to land on Mars on February 18th 2021.