Why Mars Missions Run in Packs

Photo by Luca Rüegg on Unsplash

If you pay attention to science news you will know that not one, not two, but three spacecraft will arrive at the Red Planet this week.

The missions are Perseverance (U.S.), Tianwen-1 (China) and Hope (United Arab Emirates). The first two will be attempting to put rovers on the surface to study soil composition and look for signs of life. Perseverance also has a buddy, Ingenuity, a helicopter-style drone…