NASA rover successfully launches on mission to find ancient life on Mars

An Atlas V rocket with the Perseverance rover lifts off from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on July 30, 2020.
(Image credit: GREGG NEWTON/AFP via Getty Images)

Perseverance is on its way to Mars.

NASA on Thursday successfully launched its Perseverance rover to Mars on an Atlas V rocket from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, CNN reports. When it gets to Mars, Perseverance is to collect soil samples to return to Earth, as well as "search for signs of ancient microbial life," according to NASA.

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Brendan Morrow

Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.