New Mars rover set for July launch

This probe will do a lot more than past probes and will include searches for past life and current life.

In July, Nasa will launch its latest ambitious mission to Mars, as it lays the groundwork for a manned mission in the near future. An Atlas V-541 rocket will carry a new rover to the Red Planet.

Once it touches down nine months later, the rover – which builds on technology developed for its predecessor, Curiosity – will use an array of high-tech instruments and 23 cameras to scour the planet for evidence of past microbial life, and collect samples to be returned to Earth by a later mission. Unlike previous rovers, this one will carry a drone designed for the Martian atmosphere.


Read the rest at the link and look at the several pics.