It's been a few weeks of exciting space events, from Comet Neowise lighting up Cambridgeshire's skies to the SpaceX rocket launch many of us saw last month.

And NASA is now preparing for its next big mission: sending a rover to Mars, with a provisional launch date of July 30 set.

The mission is designed to better understand the geology and climate of Mars and seek signs of ancient life on the Red Planet, the NASA website explains.

It will use a "robotic scientist" weighing just under 2,300 pounds and the size of a small car, to collect and store a set of rock and soil samples that could be returned to Earth by future Mars sample return missions.

It also will test new technologies to benefit future robotic and human exploration of Mars.

NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, managed by Caltech in Southern California, built the Perseverance rover and will manage mission operations for NASA. The agency'sLaunch Services Program, based at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida, is responsible for launch management.

Mars 2020 Perseverance is part of Americas larger Moon to Mars exploration approach that includes missions to the Moon as a way to prepare for human exploration of the Red Planet.

Charged with sending the first woman and next man to the Moon by 2024, NASA will establish a sustained human presence on and around the Moon by 2028 through NASA'sArtemis program.

To get involved, you can send questions via social media with the hashtag #CountdownToMars, and Live launch coverage will begin at 7 a.m., on NASA Television and the agencys website.

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NASA prepares to launch rover to Mars on July 30 'to seek signs of ancient life'- here's how to watch - Cambridgeshire Live