The plaque paying tribute to caregivers affixed to the Perseverance rover which is due to land on Mars on February 18.
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© NASA / JPL-Caltech
During confinement, applause resonated around the world to greet the caregivers mobilized in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
A tribute which has not lasted over time, but which will take on another form on Thursday… on Mars.
On Thursday, the Perseverance rover is due to land its wheels on the red planet.
While this jewel of technology was being prepared for its takeoff last year, the blue planet was plunged into the biggest health crisis of the century.
NASA officials then had the idea of welcoming in their own way the work of doctors, nurses and caregivers around the world.
They installed a plaque on the left side of the rover's frame, between the center and rear wheels, depicting the caduceus surmounted by an Earth.
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#Perseverance takes to Mars a tribute to caregivers fighting against the Covid-19 pandemic.
On its frame was installed an 8x13cm plate which takes up the famous symbol of medicine with the Earth added at the top.
© NASA / JPL-Caltech / Citédel'espace pic.twitter.com/A5zestmWYE
- Cité de l'Espace (@CiteEspace) February 17, 2021
On this aluminum plate measuring eight by 13 centimeters, we can see the trajectory of a spaceship ascending from Florida to Mars, a small dot in the background.
"We hope that when future generations come to Mars and stumble upon our rover, they will be reminded that when they return to Earth in 2020, there were such people," said Matt Wallace, deputy director of Project Perseverance at JPL.
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