Yesterday, Walt Disney Imagineering and NASA announced that they had teamed up to create all-new Mars rover tracks from the Perseverance rover currently on Mars. The new tracks replace tracks from earlier rovers and the display even contains some new elements. We made it out to EPCOT yesterday to take a look at the new display and grab some more detailed photos of the area.
As you can see, Mars rover tracks are roughly in the same spot as the old display in the Planetary Plaza courtyard in front of the Mission: SPACE attraction. Work on the courtyard continues, including a repainting of the planets and a revitalization of the Earth, which is currently missing as refurbishment in the area continues.
Here’s a closer look at the display, which used a prototype wheel on loan from NASA to create the treads seen crossing over the circle depicting the surface of the Red Planet.
PERSEVERANCE ROVER
NASA landed this robotic explorer on Mars on 02-18-2021
Perseverance is the first of an international team of robots. Its job is to collect samples of Mars rocks to be returned to Earth to answer the question: Was there ever life on Mars
Here’s a closer look at the tracks and a press release photo of the prototype wheel used to create the tracks that are identical to those currently made by the rover while traveling across the surface of Mars.
Guests will also find sample tubes in the display that were created from a 3D print file provided by NASA to replicate the tubes used on Mars to collect samples. In some of our earlier photos, you can see nearby holes punched into the surface where the sample tubes were used to collect a piece of Mars.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!