InSight informs human exploration in addition to its primary science
objectives. InSight is a robotic lander that will investigate the interior
(geophysical) processes that formed Mars’s core, mantle, and crust, comparing
these processes to the Earth. InSight also will investigate seismic activity and
meteorite impact rates on Mars that may affect the design of permanent
human destination infrastructure.
The Mars 2020 rover is a prime example of the coordination and overlap
between science and exploration objectives. Mars 2020 will broaden the search
for signs of past life on the Martian surface, investigate signs of habitable
environments, and collect samples for a potential future sample return mission
to Earth. The mission also will provide opportunities to gather knowledge
and demonstrate technologies that address the challenges of future human
expeditions to Mars, including EDL. The Mars 2020 rover will carry an ISRU
payload to demonstrate a method of generating oxygen from the Martian
atmosphere, which can be used to produce rocket propellant. Landing site
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