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NASA begins a new chapter in Mars exploration with the Perserverance rover

On July 30th, 2020, at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Florida, NASA launched its Mars Perseverance Rover and is now on its way to the Red Planet. The Perseverance Rover is designed to better understand the geology of Mars and to seek signs of ancient life. This mission will advance NASA’s quest to understand and explore the possible future habitability of Mars. 

Amidst a global pandemic, the Perseverance Rover still launched and it took an in-person team and virtual correspondence to make the mission happen. Hanna Galimanis, a third-year student in Aerospace Engineering at the ��«����Ƶ, spent her summer as a virtual intern for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), part of the team that prepared for the Mars 2020 Perseverance launch. 

This past summer, Galimanis worked with the Engineering Operations team at JPL, which plans and executes tasks that the Mars 2020 spacecraft performs. Galimanis was tasked with creating training videos for tools that the engineering operations team will use during cruise, entry, descent, landing and surface operations. Galimanis said, “All of the tools were new to me, so I spent a lot of time learning exactly how all of the tools worked, and then I would film and make videos on how to use the tools for future use.” 

Working virtually this summer was a different experience for everyone, and interns all around the world had to adjust. Many people had to change their at home desk space into a full-time workspace and get into a new rhythm for getting work done. This summer students might have wished they were in person, getting to network within the company and conduct meetings with people on their team.  Galimanis worked at JPL during the summer of 2019 as well but this time working virtually was a new experience. Galimanis said, “I miss being surrounded by all the technology and just being able to take a break from work and walk around the building to see all of the projects that were being worked on. They were inspiring and fun to be around.” Galimanis also mentioned that although she was working virtually this summer she still saw the passion and drive from her team and that is how she knows JPL is a great company. Although it was virtual, Galimanis still had the time to network and attend remote events. Galimanis said, “I love JPL and I can see myself working there and staying there. Being able to talk to people who are truly passionate about their jobs and enjoy the work they do really makes a difference”. 
As the Perseverance Rover take-off was just minutes away, Hanna got up early to watch the launch event happen live while participating in what is a team tradition--eating peanuts--which is seen as good luck for a successful mission.  

In spite of all the obstacles, challenges, and failures it might take to get to a goal, it’s important to maintain a sense of purpose and to persevere to the end. The Perseverance Rover is now traveling at 57,129 miles per hour through space and making its way to the Jezero Crater to search for signs of ancient life that will pave the way for future human exploration on Mars. 

As students prepare to go into the workforce they should remember that it takes a passionate team to continue working to accomplish projected goals. It is inspiring to see how interns this summer maintained their passion and creatitivity despite being virtual. Like Hanna, they persevered.

Photo courtesy of Hanna Galimanis