Twin of NASA’s Perseverance Mars Rover Now on the Move

While NASA's Mars rover Perseverance travels through space toward the Red Planet, its nearly identical rover twin is hard at work on Earth. The vehicle system test bed (VSTB) rover named OPTIMISM is a full-scale engineering version of the Mars-bound rover. It is used to test hardware and software before the commands are sent up to the Perseverance rover.
Just like Perseverance, OPTIMISM is outfitted with wheels, cameras, and computers to help it drive autonomously. After taking its first drive indoors, the VSTB rover took a spin in the Mars Yard, a dirt field which simulates the Red Planet's surface.
OPTIMISM is stationed in a garage at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, sharing a space with Curiosity's twin rover MAGGIE.
The Perseverance rover is set to land on the surface of Mars on February 18, 2021.
For more information on the mission, visit: mars.nasa.gov/...
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

[@ocelotrevs]

These kind of videos are great because it also gives a sense of scale of the machines. I didn't realise just how big this one is.

[@ryanrockwell7502]

You might like to try the JPL spacecraft AR app to help give you a sense of scale for other spacecraft!

[@marcysss93]

Right, some people actually think that mars rovers are Small like some RC toy cars. In reality they are as big as normal car

[@rohitwankhede9153]

@@marcysss93 I think those people are mad 😂😂😂

[@van20aguas]

@@rohitwankhede9153 it's not common knowledge, why would you call those people mad?

[@yega3k]

And it literally weighs 1 ton !

[@mydadleftformilk]

Meanwhile in mars: perseverance and curiosity doing drag race

[@tennaj1367]

: )

[@hi1668]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/enuudKtopM2Moac

[@ramade9040]

Ok bianca

[@butterb7925]

@@ramade9040 why so passive aggressive steve

[@pastordonkoh7692]

remember Wall E?? Pixar need to give Mars Rovers that treatment

[@Thesupermachine2000]

You know it’s real science when all the scientists are wearing labcoats

[@dox1726]

dont see any beakers, must be FAKE. ;)

[@theparadox6678]

OMG! NASA may have uncovered possible lifeform on MARS! kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqi3d5yefLGfgdE

[@ging9944]

@@dox1726 ROFL 🤣

[@blooz7134]

Its their PPE to keep FOD off the rover.

[@melvin3509]

YEAH RIGHT? I had the mindset of labcoats being a cliché, but in this video noticed that NASA scientists actually do wear them haha

[@pawankaler2746]

They are caring for the rover as their child.

[@emilysilkart]

The thing costs more than a child

[@aperson9375]

It is their child, every new innovation is actually the child of every scientist.

[@jersondereal]

The rover cost more than 2.5Billion Dollars, While the value of a whole human body is just worth 129K Dollars

[@boriskusinikov3059]

@@jersondereal i think a hole human body is more expensive than what you sed since the kindees can worth abaut 600K dollars.

[@captainpagalish2789]

@@jersondereal humans made this rover .. you idiot how you compare just a toy with human🤦🤦🤦🤦

[@RAWspy007]

The most expensive toy in universe ..... Mama i want that

[@Martinit0]

I sense a business opportunity

[@kotor1357]

@Martini0 It was in the work for 10 years and it costs a billion+ $ And it not a toy!

[@Martinit0]

@@kotor1357 but you could make a toy

[@kotor1357]

@@Martinit0 yeah..true..lol sorry

[@inuyasha2.046]

@@kotor1357 pfttttt

[@funkblack]

1:01 Crazy how they made a cable long enough to reach Mars to power the rover.

[@fuzz1252]

Yes but it broke in space :(

[@deancarter4003]

Ha ha good one!

[@serega4087]

They replugged it to sun to charge

[@greer8288]

It's operated from earth via remote control

[@pilotboy2612]

@@greer8288 ya don't say

[@david-joeklotz9558]

We love JPL!! We love PERSEVERANCE! It's going to be awesome! And not to forget OPTIMISM :-]

[@david-joeklotz9558]

@Ren If Biden takes office, THAT will be a dream of the recent past

[@karlkastor]

This makes it sound like they're just testing the rover now that Perseverance is already on route to Mars.

[@chrismofer]

lol it does, but on the one hand it's probably older footage and on the other hand theyve already tested this platform for mobility on earth and on Mars for years with Curiosity.

[@williamfied9500]

Its on mars now lol

[@Ahmed-tl5rg]

This rover now is on mars

[@chrismofer]

@@Ahmed-tl5rg this video is of the twin rover on the ground in Pasadena

[@Sometimes_Always]

@@williamfied9500 You foos.. they have 2 of them.. 1 they sent to Mars.. THIS one is kept on earth

[@catchild1013]

I CANT be the only one that is here after percerverance is safe n sound on Mars

[@loly_yt1538]

Nope

[@yahairaamparo7103]

No

[@nkellegher1938]

No

[@retrocyber5085]

You're not.

[@Formula1st]

Well obviously...

[@MentalEdge]

Fun fact. The Curiosity rovers VSTB is right next door in that same Mars Yard garage building. You can see it in SmarterEveryDays video about the sample drill on Curiosity.

[@penguinxd6351]

Touchdown Confirmed, WE ARE SAFE ON MARS. :)

[@maknyc1539]

or are we

[@eliaseid6723]

@@maknyc1539 *meanwhile on Mars* Obi Wan: Hello there

[@IntrepidFraidyCat]

We can't wait for Perseverance to land in 2021! We watched Curiosity and loved it. I look forward to seeing you post some footage from the Mars Yard! We want to see what it can do while we wait for February to get here.😉👍🏻

[@osmia]

+

[@boysattitude7285]

Gr8.

[@TatsumikuTheMusicalGhazt]

@RIBNX Ayham you mean Oppy (Opportunity, Spirit's twin) and not Curiosity whos still there

[@definesigint2823]

We made it 😊

[@IntrepidFraidyCat]

@@definesigint2823 YES! We watched it happen too. It was so great to see the first two pictures come in! I wonder when they plan to try out that helicopter....🤔

[@pavelkorchinov8437]

I can't believe that rover is on Mars now

[@anirbang4957]

❤️

[@doburu4835]

It's not, it's it's double for troubleshooting stuff, they made two, one for the mission and the other one, here on earth

[@pavelkorchinov8437]

@@doburu4835 👌

[@anirbang4957]

@@doburu4835 I think he meant that only!

[@babyj.7793]

So inspirational💝

[@DaHaiZhu]

It looks so small and toy-like...until you put a person next to it! Dang! It's a small car!

[@__hm10x]

The only time i truly get why youtube recommend me some video. #Perseverance2021.

[@jerryk974]

kudos to the guy carrying huge cable following the rover haha

[@dogwalker666]

The Umbilical is not that heavy actually.

[@watever01]

a message from the future . IT ACTUALLY SUCCESSFULLY LANDED ON MARS. GO PERSEVERANCE ❤❤

[@sharkow123]

Mhm totally not like this was posted yesterday 👀 Also wdym “actually” >:0

[@tkthebudgie1619]

Ya it landed

[@fionn1206]

the rover you see here isnt perserverance. its the same model called "Optimism"

[@jaratethegardenrover5281]

@@sharkow123 yeah i watched the livestream it is sick

[@exoterric]

Great work JPL! Proud of you! #fundNASA

[@Sometimes_Always]

This is even more exciting now that its sibling is on Mars!! What a fantastic time to be a part of the human race!

[@vanessapayago4259]

I was just recently fascinated with the news and videos all about space discoveries and exploration. It truly makes me inspire to persevere for the better future of humanity.

[@danlupiano]

2020: imagina las cosas que tendremos en cientos de años 2720: marciaplanistas

[@javard1156]

Jaja🤣

[@miathapapaya]

Its kinda cute! Like a bulkier Wall-E

[@jahratonni5868]

I am student .I have a dream . I want to be a spacetraveller. love from my country.

[@AYUSHTMU]

yes afcos you are succses now

[@lane3192]

Keep dreamin', all these people are.

[@lazypotato6743]

I am a spacetraveller as I travel through space

[@jahratonni5868]

thanks a lot for support me.

[@jahratonni5868]

My name not jahra my name is RAHNAMA

[@Nick210]

I’m glad you guys gave it a name!

[@helisoma]

What a magnificent work of engineering art.

[@astropgn]

Considering how different the gravity on both planets are, wouldn't there be a case where the rover can do a maneuver on Mars but not here on earth?

[@dogwalker666]

Yes that's the point if it can do it here it's going to have no problem coping with 0.37G.

[@justarandomguywithoutaname8719]

Most of the things work on very high torque due to which gravitational force has negligible impact. I However it would be really interesting to send some high speed rover to see what it can do in low gravitational force

[@yay-cat]

All of the white coats 😂 I always thought it was only chemistry & biology laboratory folks who had to wear those

[@SomeOneFromOFS]

I think it's just for the film

[@bob38028]

@@SomeOneFromOFS They actually wear them so they don't damage it mess up the electronics with dust or dirt or oil or food crumbs while they're still building it!

[@georgplaz]

@@bob38028 but then they carry it out in the open, exposed to wind, dust and pollen? 😅

[@flashladderacrobat]

Strange to see how carefully they carry it to the testing ground , when you think that Perseverance got shot to Mars on a rocket , then plunged through the atmosphere at 20,000 mph , was stopped abruptly by a parachute, then was taken on another rocket ride before being lowered to the surface by a sky crane .

[@catthecommentbothunter6890]

Yeah because the gravity in mars is lower than earth

[@johnnyfavorite1194]

What if potential problem scenario footage of the earth test Rover showed it running over a mock up of an alien👽

[@guyincognito3530]

We send our deepest regards to us killing your alien, cause of death standing underneath probe while landing on mars second alien killed by running in front of the moving rover.

[@hueyrosayaga]

@@guyincognito3530 The top speed of Perseverance is less than 0.1 mph XD

[@m4r797]

@@guyincognito3530 lol that reminds me of that guy who got run over and flattened by a Slow Steamroller xD

[@fernandesacabamento579]

kzbin.info/door/1OJ3a3YVuTGx9CqGNFrAng

[@xyz8282]

Congratulations🎉

[@billyminder6249]

So cool!! I didn't realize the rovers were that big!

[@rosedelacruz95]

Same

[@justarandomguywithoutaname8719]

Same!

[@mrmr6631]

Wonderful, good luck!!! Greetings from Russia!

[@TheKillerfish]

1:53 someone will probably make a conspiracy video saying there is no Rover on Mars and this is where it actually is

[@simpleinverso8628]

Flat earthers will use whatever they can to prove their point.

[@Pacific_Spirit459]

@@simpleinverso8628 Right, "prove" their point with "facts" and "logic", which are really just personal attacks devoid intellectual merit ;)

[@TheKevinmichaelperry]

Yes I think that’s where it is is not on Mars haha

[@MeetPatel-od6er]

@@TheKevinmichaelperry is that sarcasm or dillusion?

[@dogwalker666]

They already did, they are pathetic.

[@simeonrosasjr.9519]

Wow!! Congratulation.. NASA... Its another innovation and history from Science and space!! Keep it up.. Mabuhay!! From Manila.. Philippines.. Feb. 2021

[@rubenbraekman4515]

I can't wait to see how the new wheels hold up

[@Danspy501st]

I will never come over how big the rovers actually are. I mean with the Spirit rovers I always thought they where the size of a large RC car. Then I see one with people around and just realize that they are close to the size of a shopping cart

[@UncleFjester]

The 2024 Ford Bronco will have the same turn radius

[@ayzy5010]

Perseverance got some nice rims ngl

[@arseniyseleznovveroboj1571]

Улучшение марсохода заметны, очень приятно!!

[@alimulla6819]

It is fascinating to see the sister model will be doing the identical manoeuvre on the other planet

[@yadhudev7634]

Every congrats and love feom India

[@boni1182]

From*

[@moedalgarny]

russians : cuka plyat chinese : taking notes while smiling and waving

[@hi1668]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/enuudKtopM2Moac

[@DetroitMicroSound]

What a machine! ❤

[@alien3143]

Wt if it fall down reverse it can again stand back?

[@dxrk3907]

I still fell sad about spirit all alone in mars and covered in dust 🥺 I hope somehow perseverance accidentally finds him🥺

[@Formula1st]

Hopefully when humans go to Mars they can go meet up with the rovers, like on that Apollo mission (can’t remember exactly which one) where the landed next to an old probe

[@freedivert]

@@Formula1st Apollo 12 and Surveyor 3 probe. :)

[@Formula1st]

@@freedivert cheers! 😄

[@lane3192]

@@Formula1st Yeah, sure, that's what happen.

[@fionn1206]

sadly perserverance is too far away to spirit. actually curiosity is closer to spirit than perserverance www.planetary.org/space-images/mars_landing_site_map_lakdawalla

[@marknguyen7559]

I couldn’t not believe it ! Smart so smart... ! Also took 8.1/2 months get to Mars ... ... love it thank you all you Guys

[@classic7737]

Молодцы Американцы 😎👍🏻

[@afbennett3038]

In awe of this lad. Absolute unit

[@jblue1018]

It'll be cool when Percy's and curiosity's twin is out together. That'll look cool

[@Dogsnark]

Way too short! More, please!

[@Urbanking228]

“Experience is merely the name men gave to their mistakes.”

[@johnames6430]

it's amazing what very smart men have done to advance science and technology, I'm always appreciative

[@phil1press]

I want to get philosophical here...men really learn from their mistakes:)

[@ApolosaCakau]

Fascinating human ingenuity. How far we've come. My goodness!

[@hariwibowo8151]

i always imagine that rover is a size of a dog tbh

[@ruigoncalves2]

Curiosity and Perseverance are the first ones this big. The older ones were quite smaller

[@hariwibowo8151]

@@ruigoncalves2 yes, no wonder its like a ton

[@babyj.7793]

me too hahahah

[@justarandomguywithoutaname8719]

Me too

[@jjgerald7877]

So, the Perseverance rover is huge. My rovers in the 1970s were small, just prototypes. Of course, i was giving suggestions on how the #rovers should be like, and its #instruments, #sensors, and #devices to implement. In the 1980s, they would remind me of this. If there were just no one messing up, i would had welcomed constant recall of our advanced knowledge.

[@edwardvinch4492]

I would love to have a mars yard too.

[@hi1668]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/enuudKtopM2Moac

[@curiosity8435]

For a mission critical project, have a test bed is a mandatory. 👍

[@charanbasireddy]

Does this contains all the operating systems as like perseverance ?

[@boni1182]

They use linux

[@rocktim9680]

i love how they high five, like little kids, on the other hand these are the people on the forefront of science

[@jackienorris6606]

Right? NASA engineers are some of the smartest people in the world and they jump around, high five and even have little plushies of memes on their desks all the while their making the biggest leaps in human history lol

[@georgplaz]

well, high fiving is something many grown ups do. also, they are just normal people, so why wouldn't they?

[@sakshyamshrestha9205]

Never realized the rover was so big

[@shaikhahmed7929]

Okay, so thats how a Mars yard looks like. Flat earthers: We already know what a moon yard looks like, we have footages 😂

[@themichhiker2104]

So... it can operate on the surface of mars but can't drive down a road on this planet? How much cooler would it have been to have it drive itself to the testing location, instead of being carried?

[@butthead1535]

Travelling with that slow rover would take weeks or months just to reach a certain location

[@cogoid]

@@butthead1535 Indeed, it would be ridiculously, painfully, slow. And they don't seem to have a battery for it -- it is always shown tethered -- with a power and data cables plugged in. But if JPL decided to move the rover using its own motors, it would not take more than one working day to traverse JPL grounds -- the JPL facility is about 500 meters across and the top speed of the rover is said to be 90 meters/hour. On Mars, of course, it goes *much* more slowly than this top speed -- mission average for Curiosity is a tad over 7 metres/day.

[@themichhiker2104]

@@butthead1535 Good point. They only showed it leaving and arriving so thats the only times it would need to drive, they could carry it in between. It would at least give the impresssion that it drove all the way.

[@dgodrummer8110]

amazing people, doing amazing work. All of you are congratulated by the world in accomplishing your part in making this happen. humanity at it's best... just in a nick of time.

[@hi1668]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/enuudKtopM2Moac

[@menuly]

Wouldn't they have tested the second unit outside for thousands of hours before sending the real one to mars though?

[@MD-bk7kb]

That is exactly what I thought. bit late to start testing now, if they find a problem how will the fix it on the one traveling to Mars?

[@gubgubgub]

@@MD-bk7kb they have already tested it now they are using it to compare to situations the rover may be in or be in

[@MD-bk7kb]

@@gubgubgub yeah I get that, just sounded odd the way they put it across.

[@57HarleyDavidson]

@Merlin What do you mean by the real one?

[@MD-bk7kb]

@@57HarleyDavidson the one going to Mars. Obviously I realise they are the same and both equally real, I just meant the one that will be used on Mars.

[@sergeig685]

What an amazing job to have

[@Apratis]

2:03 Optimism?

[@georgplaz]

thats what the twin rover on earth is called

[@bennyndjet]

Thank you for being smart and great.

[@ПавелБв]

как тебе такое, димитьрий рогозин? (специально с маленьких букв)

[@officialro8605]

Guys , i need to know is perseverance get controlled by Nasa team or it autonomous like drive itself

[@crazyajay1157]

Controlled by nasa

[@sergeig685]

@@crazyajay1157 There is 12 minute signal delay each way. It cannot be driven by NASA. It is a combination of both

[@crazyajay1157]

@@sergeig685 yes you're right but I heard nasa sends code from here and than rover drives according to it

[@justusgronts3882]

Humanities greatest accomplishment and these guys are concerned as to whom posts soonest. Would sweep the floors, clean the toilets or whatever to work in that facility.

[@david-joeklotz9558]

A floor and a toilet is the same wherever you go

[@justusgronts3882]

@@david-joeklotz9558 "Whatever" was the operative word. My qualifications span ME, EE, ET, minors in math, CompE and CS but at 72 years old tis still not enough to participate in mans greatest quest (to date)! (sigh)

[@david-joeklotz9558]

@@justusgronts3882 You said that you wanted to clean. I'm sure if you applied ...

[@pvelardeNP]

Look at that smart people wearing masks!

[@luisantoniomarrega1120]

Perfeito fantástico. Gostei!👍 Abraco😷

[@hi1668]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/enuudKtopM2Moac

[@tylerwickwire1522]

Gosh I wish I could watch this beauty drive in slow motion

[@jojoe6969]

Who's here after touchdown

[@catchild1013]

Touch Mars earth we luv and stan

[@Charliedavis14744]

Me

[@laudemirferreira3227]

uau!!!!! !USA !!!! Winss #Brazil

[@spacexstuff6752]

What if they just forgot to load it on the rocket and that is the real thing

[@ieattuna]

hahhahahah

[@KarateLauren]

@@ieattuna i see you, vincent. you can't run now.

[@ieattuna]

@@KarateLauren ?

[@g0ast]

Mars 2020 backup backup Rover "Hope For The Best"

[@jacimarmoronarimassad2925]

Fantástico

[@ralfjungnickel1220]

And now this vehicle is driving autonom on the ground of mars and will stay there for ever.Thats so amazing 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@georgplaz]

no, its not. this vehicle stayed on earth. You are looking at "Optimism" the twin of "Perseverance" (which is the one on mars now).

[@ralfjungnickel1220]

Ah yes i understand they need a twin aha when is some problems 😃👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@KOKOBC]

I feel bad for the twin, it does all the work yet gets none of the fun/attention

[@Digalog]

Your comment is basically a contradiction in this video. Also it doesn't do all of the work, it does part of the work, testing, not it's actual task which is exploring Mars.

[@feonixo]

It won't be as lonely as Perseverance though... have you not thought about the Rover's mental health? ;)

[@catchild1013]

@@feonixo Twitter loves you

[@feonixo]

@@catchild1013 you lost me there sorry....

[@catchild1013]

@@feonixo a stereotype of white girls on Twitter

[@GamingZone-rs2jx]

🎉Congratulation🎉 *love from Bangladesh*

[@the_elifasii3665]

Не, ну Рогозин, конечно, интереснее дела в Роскосмосе делает, тут бесспорно. Что нам эти ваши роверы бездушные, у вас хотя бы песни про космос есть?

[@AlMansurpictures]

More short and informative videos like this please.

[@toufikallagi8425]

Thank you very much that he used to do usurious things on the moon as if they do something and he had things.

[@kidscinema2217]

Imagine an alien is starting at this , "oh yeah it's the human again 😂"

[@ukynsbustamante5351]

Hahahaha I THOUGHT IT IS VERY SMALL 😅😅😅

[@e14thoriumcryptoman29]

Oh wow that’s big I thought it would be a small one

[@catchild1013]

We here after it landed

[@cityplanner3063]

It’s funny how gentle they are to the robot. I don’t think the entry and landing will be that smooth haha

[@Neitenth]

It actually was that smooth.

[@amateurastronomer2624]

Soft landing

[@srinivaspalateti4346]

2:09 what is this type of cinematography effect is called ? Everything is looks small objects in it. Please anyone tell me !

[@KamilMarzecProductions]

TILT SHIFT

[@davidl3743]

Depth of field too I think

[@shreyasp3287]

Is it beside curiosity

[@Thomas-mf9bk]

Now that I see the actual size of that vehicle, it dawns to me what extraordinary achievement it was to bring Curiosity and Perseverance to Mars.. which... is another planet... Holy moly.

[@mikebeatstsb7030]

Can someone please help me and tell me what camera filter or setting the shot is at 2:08 - 2:10 please? I've seen this mode before but I don't know what it's called

[@TheTurtle61]

Tilt shift

[@mikebeatstsb7030]

@@TheTurtle61 awesome,! Thanks so much! I've wondered this for such a long time 👍🏻

[@lastpreacher9093]

Once man lands on any planet outside of earth, he becomes an alien in that planet.

[@2k7u]

Actually only humans born in said planet would be aliens

[@swolltron]

You all should be wearing hardhats when that crane was moving the rover. "Safety first. Always." Dyatlav

[@kunshumonarch1237]

I didn’t realise how humongous that rovers were

[@0401asdf]

Sooo where can i buy it?

[@Bolero_lover_vengat]

Big wind fan back attached. Storm will goes nearby and no damage will dust clear

[@antonbaranov5495]

你们走的非常好! Молодцы!

[@davidcastillo1340]

I like the Los Santos Customs wheels

[@SherylNomeFairy9]

Those are specially designed the rover tbh

[@rockyteeproductionstudios3101]

They're this big!

[@mvmmotovlogmusic2815]

It’s videos like this that make You Tube mu favourite “TV channel”.