Watch Video: NASA's Mars 2020 rover can move arms just like human being

Mars 2020 rover has a shoulder, elbow and wrist joints for maximum flexibility.

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Raghwendra Shukla
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Watch Video: NASA's Mars 2020 rover can move arms just like human being

The rover has 7-foot-long robotic arm that can move a lot like yours.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Mars 2020 is timed for a lunch in July 2020 when Earth and Mars are in good positions relative to each other for landing on the red planet. Mars 2020 rover will land at Jezero Crater on February 18, 2021. "The rover of parts are similar to what any living creature would need to keep it "alive" and able to explore," said NASA. 

The rover has 7-foot-long robotic arm that can move a lot like yours. It has a shoulder, elbow and wrist "joints" for maximum flexibility. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) of Caltech and NASA  recently demonstrated the flexibility and humanoid stance of its robotic arm using a time-lapse video. 

The arm lets the rover work as a human geologist would: by holding and using science tools with its "hand" or turret. The rover's own "hand tools" extract cores from rocks, takes microscopic images and analyzes the elemental composition and mineral makeup of Martian rocks and soil.

In the meantime, the US space agency is inviting people to send their names to Mars. Yes, you read it right. You can send your names to Mars. And, if you want to then hurry up. 

So far, at least 2 million people have grabbed the opportunity to send their names on NASA’s InSight mission to Mars. As the invitation comes with a souvenir boarding pass and “frequent flyer” points, one can add their name to the list and obtain a souvenir boarding pass to Mars until September 30. Also, in a tweet, NASA said, “It's not too late to send your name to Mars! Our #Mars2020 Rover is gearing up for its seven-month journey to the Red Planet and you can send your name along for the ride. Get your boarding pass.”

NASA mars NASA Mars 2020 Mission Red Planet NASA Mars 2020 rover