Next month on July 20th at 9.15 EST, NASA will launch the Mars Perseverance rover towards Mars’ 28-mile wide Jezero Crater for a targeted landing on February 18, 2021. The launch window beginning on July 20th has been projected since the rover was announced in December 2012, and marks the 51st anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 moon landing on July 20, 1969. In the event of inclement weather, the launch window will last until August 11th, since Mars and Earth need to be on the same side of the sun during the launch. This will be NASA’s 9th spacecraft to visit Mars, and the first to collect samples for future return to Earth. (Photo: artist concept of an astronaut on Mars, as viewed through the window of a spacecraft. Credit: NASA.)