mars 2020 rover

NASA gives the Mars 2020 rover its legs and wheels

The Mars 2020 rover is looking more and more like an actual rover, now that there's only a year left before its target launch date. NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory engineers have installed the vehicle's starboard legs and six wheels (aka its mobility suspension) on June 13th. The machine's wheels are made of aluminum with 48 cleats machined onto their surface. Those metal projections will give the vehicle the traction it needs to be able to drive on both sandy and rough, rocky surfaces.