Perseverance: Lessons from a Rover

Perseverance rover successfully launched on July 30, 2020, aboard the Atlas V 541 rocket, initiating its 7-month interplanetary cruise to Mars for surface exploration, sample collection, and astrobiology research.

I’m sure we can all think of someone in our lives who you’d describe as being perseverant. This person has an incredible determination to achieve, despite difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement. It’s the quality of persisting in a course of action, even when faced with challenges or delays in reaching success. It’s remarkable how they can see the goal past the adversity.  Maybe you’re that person and tenacity is something you identify with.  Maybe you’re that person and don’t know it yet. As a therapist, I watch people navigate their struggles, slowly learning to trust their own voice. Through perseverance, a growing sense of clarity, and an openness to their own worth, they begin to believe they are worth fighting for. I can’t imagine a better gift than to bear witness to this journey.  But I digress.  In simpler terms: Perseverance means not giving up, even when things get tough.

When NASA’s Perseverance rover touched down on Mars in February 2021, it was more than just a technological marvel. It was a symbol of resilience, determination, and the power of never giving up. The rover’s mission to explore the harsh Martian terrain, search for signs of ancient life, and pave the way for future human exploration mirrors the challenges many of us face in our mental health journeys.

Just as Perseverance navigates obstacles, setbacks, and unknowns, we too encounter difficulties in our daily lives. Here’s how the story of this incredible rover can inspire us to keep going, even when the path ahead seems uncertain. Feel free to apply this example from space into your own life.

Full sized mockup of the Perseverance rover at the Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena, California.

1. Every Journey Begins with a Single Step (or Wheel Roll)

Perseverance didn’t reach Mars overnight. It took years of planning, testing, and overcoming failures. Similarly, progress in mental health is rarely linear. Whether you’re working through anxiety, depression, or personal struggles, small steps matter. Celebrate the little victories, because they add up over time.

2. Adapting to Unexpected Challenges

Mars is full of surprises: dust storms, rocky terrain, and extreme temperatures. The rover was built to adapt, just as we must learn to adjust when life throws curveballs. Therapy, self-care, and support systems are like Perseverance’s backup systems. They help us stay functional even when conditions are tough.

3. The Power of a Support Team

Perseverance doesn’t work alone. It relies on a dedicated team of scientists and engineers back on Earth. In the same way, seeking help from friends, family, or mental health professionals isn’t a weakness, it’s a strength. No one should have to navigate their struggles in isolation.

4. Curiosity and Hope Drive Progress

Perseverance carried a smaller helicopter named Ingenuity, proving that innovation thrives even in the most difficult environments. I remain in absolute awe of that little helicopter. Just imagine, the first flight ever on another planet. Engineers hoped for just one successful mission, yet it defied all expectations with an incredible 72 flights! Similarly, maintaining curiosity and hope asking, “What if things get better?” can fuel personal growth. Healing isn’t about perfection; it’s about moving forward, one discovery at a time.

5. Leaving a Mark for Those Who Follow

One of Perseverance’s key missions is to collect samples for future Mars missions. In mental health, our perseverance also leaves a legacy, whether it’s breaking cycles of trauma, advocating for others, or simply showing that recovery is possible. Your strength today could inspire someone else tomorrow. What stays with me most is this: bearing witness to others' perseverance as a therapist means seeing firsthand the unshakable strength that exists even in the darkest, most terrifying places. That knowledge changes everything.

Final Thought: Keep Exploring

Perseverance, both the rover and the mindset, reminds us that progress is possible even in the harshest conditions. If a machine millions of miles away can keep going despite dust, cold, and isolation, so can we.

The next time you feel stuck, remember you’re not alone in your journey. Like Perseverance, you’re built to endure, adapt, and discover new horizons. And at your next star party, look up for the red planet.  Think of the rover and remember your own perseverance.

Keep going. The best discoveries are ahead.

Full scale mockup of the Perseverance rover maneuvering around the JPL campus during an Explore JPL event.

From a scientific lens…

NASA's Perseverance rover landed on Mars in February 2021 as part of the Mars 2020 mission. This car-sized robotic scientist is exploring Jezero Crater, a site believed to hold clues about ancient microbial life. Equipped with advanced instruments, it drills rock samples, tests oxygen production from Mars' atmosphere, and even deployed the Ingenuity helicopter—proving powered flight is possible on another world. Originally designed for a two-year mission, Perseverance continues to exceed expectations, paving the way for future human exploration while searching for answers about Mars' past.