Mars landing time: Perseverance will enter the Martian atmosphere at 12,000mph (Image: NASA) READ MORE What time will NASA's Perseverance rover land on Mars? The timing of today's Mars landing is complicated by an 11 minute and 25 second delay in communications between Mars and Earth. The landing sequence only lasts about seven minutes, which means the rover will have already landed by the time NASA receives confirmation of Perseverance entering the Martian atmosphere. And if all goes according to plan, NASA expects the rover will confirm a safe touchdown by 8.55pm GMT (3.55pm EST). Before that happens, the Perseverance will need to tick off every stage of its complex landing sequence.