NASA Nasa has released new video of the moment the Perseverance rover touched down on Mars, including the first audio recording of sounds from the red planet. OPINION: High above the long white cloud, something incredible is happening. Nasa recently landed Perseverance, its most advanced robotic rover yet, on Mars. The week before that, the United Arab Emirates’ probe Hope arrived in orbit. SpaceX is ramping up missions with a plan to put people on the red planet this decade and Virgin Galactic, is eyeing space tourism with final certification tentatively planned for this year. Space is opening up. There are plenty of good reasons to go to space. From hard science and discovery to the shared feeling of wonder and unity that comes from watching it all unfold; unequivocal moments of wholesome human achievement unpolluted by politics.