MANILA, Philippines — National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced that its largest and most advanced rover Perseverance has landed on Mars today.
In its official Twitter account, NASA announced the landing, saying that the mission is just beginning.
“Touchdown confirmed. The #CountdownToMars is complete, but the mission is just beginning,” NASA wrote.
In a statement, NASA Associate Administrator for Science Thomas Zurbuchen said the momentous event is the first step in bringing back samples from the red planet.
"Because of today’s exciting events, the first pristine samples from carefully documented locations on another planet are another step closer to being returned to Earth," he said.
"Perseverance is the first step in bringing back rock and regolith from Mars. We don’t know what these pristine samples from Mars will tell us. But what they could tell us is monumental—including that life might have once existed beyond Earth,” he added.
Meanwhile, NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover Twitter account posted its first photo from Mars.
“Hello, world. My first look at my forever home. #CountdownToMars,” it wrote.
Hello, world. My first look at my forever home. #CountdownToMars pic.twitter.com/dkM9jE9I6X
— NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) February 18, 2021
Social media users celebrated the milestone by posting memes on social media.
Some of the memes from witty Filipinos included senator Cynthia Villar, "Mars" talk show hosts Camille Prats and Suzie Abrera, and social media personality Richo Bautista, who became known for his expression "Walang ganun, mars!"
First look at the #Mars2020 photos! The Martian’s are awesome pic.twitter.com/TC4q7DG68R
— Christopher (@TheRealMrPugh) February 18, 2021
Uhm, wait a minute..#Mars2020 pic.twitter.com/KEdhfy2Ftq
— ???????????????????? (@artbyouie) February 18, 2021
wrong zoom meeting pic.twitter.com/qwR7FUrOHc
— Michael Bloss (@micha_bloss) February 18, 2021
BREAKING: NASA releases the first photo from #Mars2020 pic.twitter.com/pvPrrC3iHk
— arya? (@tknmoon) February 18, 2021
Mars lander, what's happening up there? #Mars2020 #CountdownToMars pic.twitter.com/SdQquqEans
— Rafael de Almeida (@rafaeldealmeida) February 18, 2021
Matt Damon after seeing another rover land on Mars! ????#preseverance #Mars2020 pic.twitter.com/lvgu5pepFP
— Andreas Karabetian ???? (@adreaskar) February 18, 2021
Posted by Jimmy Alcobilla on Thursday, February 18, 2021
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