Peraton Peraton

EARTH IS JUST THE BEGINNING.
We are meant
for Mars.
The History of Mars Exploration

Peraton Supports Successful Landing of NASA’s Perseverance Rover

The History of Mars Exploration

The History of Mars Exploration

Peraton Employees on the Frontline of the Mars Mission

Peraton Employees on the Frontline of the Mars 2020 Mission

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WHY MARS?

Not long ago, stepping foot on another planet was just a dream. Today, we are preparing to make that leap with the launch of Perseverance.

Humankind’s relationship with the cosmos started as one of curiosity and myth. Over time, we observed and learned. We discovered. We explored.

Now, we’re charting a new course – studying, finding, and building our second home on Mars. It begins with Perseverance and the Mars 2020 mission. We are proud to be part of this epic journey into the stars.

What We Do

SPACE NETWORK

While on the launchpad, through liftoff, and while still within Earth's orbit, the Space Network will be exchanging communications with the crew and spacecraft.
Peraton’s SENSE team operates the Space Network, which will communicate with the Atlas V launch vehicle that will deliver the Mars 2020 spacecraft into space.
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DEEP SPACE NETWORK

The DSN transmits crucial data and imagery for scientific discovery, and Peraton employees are on the frontlines supporting the men and women of NASA.
Soon after the mission launch, Peraton’s Deep Space Network team will begin communicating with the Mars 2020 spacecraft and rover, and will continue to serve as NASA’s link to the mission for the next few years!
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ACUSIL

Acusil is a proprietary lightweight, silicone syntactic foam thermal protection system with proven efficacy over nearly three decades of use on NASA missions.
NASA chose Peraton’s Acusil®, a proprietary foam thermal protection system, as the coating for the parachute cone, where it will protect the landing parachute and sensitive communication antennas from environmental forces that the lander will be subject to during the entry, descent and landing stage.
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Learn more about our space capabilities
Watch how we get spacecraft
from earth to deep space

HEAR FROM THE EXPERTS

Deep Space Network Program Manager

Sonny

Deep Space Network Program Manager

"There’s no way to fix it [Perseverance] once it leaves Earth. If it doesn’t work, it's probably not ever going to work. If we launch a spacecraft and we can’t communicate with it effectively, it’s a couple billion dollars' waste of money."

SENSE Site Manager

Melissa

SENSE Site Manager

"Keeping our spacecraft and explorers connected as they rise through the atmosphere and into space is the beginning of our next great journey into the cosmos."

Vice President of Civil Space Programs

Ronna

Vice President of Civil Space Programs

"In today’s highly data-rate-reliant environment, the thirst for knowledge and data-driven solutions that can improve our life on Earth and human exploration well beyond low Earth orbit exists now more than ever."

FACTS & FIGURES

33.9

MILLION MILES TO MARS

687

MISSION DURATION IN DAYS

23

CAMERAS ON PERSEVERANCE

THE PERSEVERANCE MISSION

LAUNCH

Lift-off from Earth

CRUISE

Voyage through space to Mars

APPROACH

Nearing the red planet Mars

ENTRY, DESCENT, & LANDING

The Mars 2020 spacecraft follows an entry, descent, landing process similar to that used in landing the Mars rover, Curiosity. Mars 2020 lands at Jezero Crater on Feb. 18, 2021.

INSTRUMENT CHECKS &
FIRST DRIVE

After landing when engineers first conduct tests to ensure the rover is in a "safe state"

SURFACE OPERATIONS

The surface operations phase is the time when the Perseverance rover conducts its scientific studies on Mars. After landing safely, the rover has a primary mission span of at least one Martian year (687 Earth days).
Perseverance Mission Timeline
Real-time status display
for NASA ground stations

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Media Contact

Please note that the contact information on this page is intended for media and press.
For all other requests, please use our Contact page.
Matt McQueen
Chief Communications & Engagement Officer mmcqueen@peraton.com


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