Tracking NASA's Mars Perseverance rover, a year in

Friday marks one year since NASA launched its Perseverance rover on a bold mission to Mars.

Mars' atmosphere, wind and weather patterns also play a key role in determining whether microbial life existed.

So Perseverance brought theIngenuity helicopter, which completed its historic first powered flight on another world on April 19.

The next day brought another first.

Perseverance will spend at least one Mars year (nearly two Earth years) exploring the landing site region.

For more information on Perseverance’s missions on Mars, watch this CNET Explainer.