o For instance, maps and accurate geospatial data are useful in projects such as linkages of rivers, creation

of industrial corridors, and deployment of smart power systems etc.

Also, it will play a significant role in the SVAMITWA scheme to map rural lands.
• Resource Management: Locally available and locally relevant maps and geospatial data would also help in
improved planning and management of resources and better serve the specific needs of the Indian population.
• Supporting emerging government initiatives: Emerging vibrant initiatives such as Digital India, Smart Cities,
eCommerce, autonomous drones, delivery, logistics and urban transport require a leap forward in mapping
with greater depth, resolution and precision.

7.4. NASA’S MARS 2020 PERSEVERANCE ROVER MISSION

Why in news?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Perseverance Rover successfully touched down on Mars.
About NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover mission Other missions to Mars
Till now 6 countries US, Russia, China, the EU, India
• Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover mission is part of and UAE are successful to reach the Martian orbit.
NASA's Mars Exploration Program, a long-term • NASA
effort of robotic exploration of the Red Planet-Mars. o Viking spacecraft
o It was launched in July 2020. o Odyssey spacecraft
o Mission seeks signs of ancient life and collect o Curiosity rover
samples of rock and regolith (broken rock and o Insight
soil) for possible return to Earth. o Reconnaissance Orbiter
o MAVEN
• Perseverance rover will begin its two-year-long
o Phoenix
investigation in Jezero Crater to assess the geology
• EU
and past climate of the Red planet. o Mars Express
o The crater had its own river delta and was filled o ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (along with Russia)
with water nearly 3.5 billion years ago. o Beagle 2
o Perseverance is also ferrying a helicopter named • India: Mangalyaan
Ingenuity, the first aircraft to attempt powered, • UAE: Hope Mission
controlled flight on another planet. • China: Tianwen-1
o It also includes most advanced astrobiology • Russia: Fobos-Grunt
laboratory sent to Mars till date.
• Perseverance is intended to be the first part of a robotic sample return mission from Mars.
Why is Mars being explored?
• It is believed that four billion years ago environments on Venus, Earth and Mars were habitable.
• Mars had a thick atmosphere, which enabled the stability of water on the surface of Mars, hence there is a
real possibility that microscopic life evolved on Mars.
• Mars is only about one-half the diameter of Earth, but both planets have roughly the same amount of dry
land surface area.
• Mars has volcanoes (Olympus Mons), canyons (Valles Marineris), and impact basins much like the ones on
the Earth.
• Mars is seen as only planet that humans can visit or inhabit in the long term.
o Mars is comparatively hospitable in terms of temperature, with an approximate range between 20
degrees C at the Equator to minus 125 degrees C at the poles.
o Venus and Mercury have extreme temperatures the average temperature is greater than 400 degree C,
or hotter than a cooking oven.
✓ However, Astronomers recently discovered compelling evidence pointing to life floating in the clouds
of Venus.
o All planets in the outer solar system are made of gas that does not have silicates or rocks and are very
cold.

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