​Size of Mars

​Mars (diameter 6790 kilometers) is only slightly more than half the size of Earth (diameter 12750 kilometers). Note the difference in color between the two planets. Almost 70% of Earth's surface is covered by liquid water. In contrast, Mars now has no liquid water on its surface and is covered with bare rock and dust.

​Mars Gravity

​Mars' mass is 6.42 x 10²³ kilograms, about 10 times less than Earth. This affects the force of gravity. Gravity on Mars is 38 percent of Earth's gravity, so a 100-pound person on Earth would weigh 38 pounds on Mars.

Perseverance

• Perseverance, nicknamed Percy, is a car-sized Mars rover designed to explore Jezero Crater on Mars

• Launched on 30 July 2020 at and successfully landed on Mars on 18 February 2021

• Goals include identifying ancient Martian environments capable of supporting life, and seeking out evidence if microbial life existed.

Curiosity

• A car-sized Mars rover designed to explore the Gale crater on Mars

• The rover's goals include an investigation of the Martian climate and geology,