MOC - NASA Mars Rover 2020 Perseverance, Scale 1:10 with Ingenuity copter

This MOC is a full redesign of my previous versions of the Perseverance Rover (MOC-49467), solving issues of self-support and stability and adding many new enhancements. It took me 5 months of work to test and redesign the MOC and I very much hope you'll enjoy the result. As always, any comments and suggestions will be very welcome! 

It has 333 parts in the inventory, with 1564 total quantity. The scale is 1:10 and the MOC has aprox. dimensions of 51 cm (length) x 25 cm (width) x 31 cm (height).




With folded drilling arm:






The MOC now stands on two frontal columnar supports (Brick Round 2 x 2 with Axle Hole, part #3941, trans-clear), and uses in the rear part the deploying Ingenuity copter to provide support from the bottom of the Rover, as the actual rover did. I've included in the detailed instructions for a second helicopter model, fully displayed. The deploying copter can be detached and replaced by a column of parts #3941 and then displayed outside the Rover, or it can be kept attached to the bottom. Thus, the MOC is now mainly for display but can be manipulated and played somehow due to the detachable helicopter and the several movable elements on top of the Rover. For example, the drilling arm is fully expandable and foldable and the head rotates freely 360º, as well as the arm itself.









I'm including a full range of photos and a short video of the mounted MOC. It now includes a baseplate with a simple terrain landscape that can be fully customized and redesigned by the user.






My LEGO-based model of the NASA Mars Rover 2020 Perseverance spacecraft, a key element in the recent Mars 2020 NASA mission, was designed to be as close as possible to the original rover. I've tried to be as detailed as possible regarding all the different components present in the vehicle. I'm a fan of space exploration and I think both the Perseverance Rover and the Ingenuity Helicopter are truly amazing pieces of engineering, following the path of the Mars Curiosity Rover. I have also a model for the Ingenuity (MOC-47907), scale 1:50, (please see my profile). I've spent many hours studying and enjoying the rover structure and designing the parts, trying to use a relatively reduced number at the end. I've designed several specific parts with decals for this model. With the movable and articulated parts I think this can make a great set, combining simplicity and detail. The new model provides full support and stability as well as a fully movable drilling arm.

The Perseverance is a rover manufactured by the JPL, the last model designed by them and deployed in NASA's Mars 2020 mission. The launch was on July 30, 2020, with landing on Mars on February 18, 2021. It follows the path set by Mars Curiosity, the NASA rover that touched down on Mars eight years ago, on Aug. 5, 2012, on the basin of Gale Crater.

The Mars 2020 Perseverance rover's astrobiology mission searches for signs of ancient microbial life. It will also characterize the planet's climate and geology, collect samples for future return to Earth and pave the way for human exploration of the Red Planet. The ambitious objectives include: 1) Explore a geologically diverse landing site; 2) Assess ancient habitability; 3) Seek signs of ancient life, particularly in special rocks known to preserve signs of life over time; 4) Gather rock and soil samples that could be returned to Earth by a future NASA mission, and 5) Demonstrate technology for future robotic and human exploration.

The built model:


Front view:


Folded drilling arm:


Features of the model:
Pretty detailed onboard equipment (please see NASA detailed fact sheet here).
Articulated maneuvers for the arm, coring drill, mast and mast cams, suspension, on-top sensors and antennas, and wheels.
Movable elements and fully articulated and rotating arm.
Two Ingenuity copters included: one deploying, for setting below the Rover and providing added support and the other once deployed in the exterior of the vehicle. Its rotors rotate freely and independently.
Dimension: 51 cm (drilling arm extended); 38 cm (main body with motor) / 37 studs.
Scale: 1:10.
333 parts in its inventory, with 1564 total quantity (this might change with updates); varying also depending on the user will to build a more or less complex martian landscape.
Two booklets with detailed building instructions in pdf format.
Archives (Studio .part) with digital data of custom parts with decals.
Studio .io file with just the Rover MOC.

I've made use of NASA's official resources and support information on the Perseverance as a reference to guide my design and recreate as much detail as possible. Don't miss all the wonderfully detailed information they have for this fascinating project.