Spacecraft specialists test the descent stage and rover of the Mars Science Laboratory in this scene from the Spacecraft Assembly Facility at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

This stereo image of NASA Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Rovert was taken May 26, 2011, in Spacecraft Assembly Facility at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. 3D glasses are necessary to view this image.

This image from early October 2008 shows personnel working on the descent stage of NASA Mars Science Laboratory inside the Spacecraft Assembly Facility at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

This image from August 2008 shows NASA Mars Science Laboratory rover in the course of its assembly, before additions of its arm, mast, laboratory instruments and other equipment.

Each of the six wheels for NASA Mars Science Laboratory rover is about half a meter 20 inches in diameter.

This portion of NASA Mars Science Laboratory, called the descent stage, does its main work during the final few minutes before touchdown on Mars.

This image from July 2008 shows the aeroshell for NASA Mars Science Laboratory while it was being worked on by spacecraft technicians at Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company near Denver.

The Mars Science Laboratory mission powered descent vehicle is the integrated combination of the spacecraft descent stage and the rover Curiosity.

Members of the Cold Atom Laboratory team at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory are seen here with their ground-based testbed, which can reliably create a Bose-Einstein condensate.

This image taken in August 2008 in a clean room at NASA JPL, Pasadena, Calif., shows NASA next Mars rover, the Mars Science Laboratory, in the course of its assembly, before additions of its arm, mast, laboratory instruments and other equipment.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, right, is presented a plaque by JPL Director Michael Watkins during a tour of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Saturday, April 28, 2018 in Pasadena, California. The plaque presents a view of the Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity on the surface of Mars. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Adam Swanger (left) and James Fesmire assemble a cryocooler-based low temperature materials test in the Cryogenics Test Laboratory at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Mar. 20, 2019.

Mark Velasco (left) and Jared Sass assemble a custom cold heat exchanger for freezing carbon dioxide from a simulated Martian environment in the Cryogenics Test Laboratory at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Mar. 20, 2019.

Delivery to the Wet Chemistry Laboratory

The parachute for NASA Mars Science Laboratory mission opens to a diameter of nearly 16 meters 51 feet. This image shows a duplicate qualification-test parachute inside the world's largest wind tunnel, at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. The Mars Science Laboratory will be launched in 2011 for a landing on Mars in 2012. Its parachute is the largest ever built to fly on an extraterrestrial mission. The parachute uses a configuration called disk-gap-band, with 80 suspension lines. Most of the orange and white fabric is nylon, though a small disk of heavier polyester is used near the vent in the apex of the canopy due to higher stresses there. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA11994

The descent stage of NASA Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft is being lifted during assembly of the spacecraft in this photograph taken inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA Kennedy Space Center, Fla.

The team developing the landing system for NASA Mars Science Laboratory tested the deployment of an early parachute design in mid-October 2007 inside the world largest wind tunnel, at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California.

NASA Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft has been fully stacked for flight in this photograph from inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA Kennedy Space Center, Fla., in October 2011.

The cruise stage of NASA Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft is being prepared for final stacking of the spacecraft in this photograph from inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA Kennedy Space Center, Fla.

The Mars Science Laboratory mission rover, Curiosity, is prepared for final integration into the complete NASA spacecraft in this photograph taken inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA Kennedy Space Center, Fla.

Sunset on Mars catches NASA Mars Science Laboratory in the foreground in this artist concept. The mission is under development for launch in 2009 and a precision landing on Mars in 2010.

This view of a portion of the descent stage of NASA Mars Science Laboratory shows two of the stage three spherical fuel tanks flanking the bridle device assembly.

Decades of work preparing a miniaturized laboratory for identifying minerals on Mars have also yielded spinoff versions with diverse applications on Earth and, possibly, the moon.

Testing of the cruise stage for NASA Mars Science Laboratory in August 2010 included a session in a facility that simulates the environment found in interplanetary space.

NASA Mars Science Laboratory travels near a canyon on Mars in this artist concept. The mission is under development for launch in 2009 and a precision landing on Mars in 2010.

NASA Mars Science Laboratory, a mobile robot for investigating Mars past or present ability to sustain microbial life, is in development for a launch opportunity in 2011 previously 2009.

This is hardware for controlling the final lowering of NASA Mars Science Laboratory rover to the surface of Mars from the spacecraft hovering, rocket-powered descent stage.

James Fesmire pours liquid nitrogen from a dewar into an insulated glass flask in the Cryogenics Test Laboratory at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Mar. 20, 2019. See-through flasks are a useful tool in cryogenics to examine various physical phenomena.

James Fesmire transfers a charged Cryogenic Flux Capacitor device to a bath of water in the Cryogenics Test Laboratory at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Mar. 20, 2019. This demonstration is a visual aid that conveys that a large quantity of fluid is stored in the device at low temperature.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, left, meets with JPL Director Michael Watkins during a tour of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Saturday, April 28, 2018 in Pasadena, California. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence tours NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Saturday, April 28, 2018 in Pasadena, California. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

This artist concept shows thrusters firing during the entry, descent and landing phase for NASA Mars Science Laboratory mission to Mars.

DC-8 Airborne Laboratory in flight

DC-8 Airborne Laboratory in flight

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence is given instructions on how to drive a rover nicknamed "Scarecrow" by JPL Director Michael Watkins at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory Mars Yard, Saturday, April 28, 2018 in Pasadena, California. Scarecrow is used to test mobility of rovers on Mars. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence turns and talks with Executive Director of the National Space Council Scott Pace during a tour of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Saturday, April 28, 2018 in Pasadena, California. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

JPL Director Michael Watkins, standing, explains the history of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the use of the Mission Support Area to Vice President Mike Pence during a tour of JPL, Saturday, April 28, 2018 in Pasadena, California. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

SLOPE Excavation Laboratory

At the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Mars Science Laboratory rover, Curiosity, and the spacecraft descent stage have been enclosed inside the spacecraft aeroshell.

Testing of the cruise stage for NASA Mars Science Laboratory in August 2010 included a session in a facility that simulates the environment found in interplanetary space. Spacecraft technicians at JPL prepare a space-simulation test.

During final stacking of NASA Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft, the heat shield is positioned for integration with the rest of the spacecraft in this photograph from inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA Kennedy Space Center, Fla.

In the Vertical Integration Facility at Space Launch Complex 41, the payload fairing containing NASA Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft was attached to its Atlas V rocket on Nov. 3, 2011.

Technicians at Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver, prepare the heat shield for NASA Mars Science Laboratory. With a diameter of 4.5 meters nearly 15 feet, this heat shield is the largest ever built for a planetary mission.

The parachute for NASA Mars Science Laboratory passed flight-qualification testing in March and April 2009 inside the world largest wind tunnel, at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.

Preparations are under way to enclose NASA Mars Science Laboratory in an Atlas V rocket payload fairing. The fairing protects the spacecraft from the impact of aerodynamic pressure and heating during ascent.

The major components of NASA Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft -- cruise stage atop the aeroshell, which has the descent stage and rover inside -- were connected together in October 2008 for several weeks of system testing.

This portion of NASA Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft, called the cruise stage, will do its work during the flight between Earth and Mars after launch in the fall of 2011.

This artist concept is of NASA Mars Science Laboratory MSL Curiosity rover parachute system; the largest parachute ever built to fly on a planetary mission. The parachute is attached to the top of the backshell portion of the spacecraft aeroshell.

In this February 17, 2009, image, NASA Mars Science Laboratory rover is attached to the spacecraft descent stage. The image was taken inside the Spacecraft Assembly Facility at NASA JPL, Pasadena, Calif.

This image shows NASA Mars Science Laboratory heat shield, and a spacecraft worker at Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver. It is the largest heat shield ever built for descending through the atmosphere of any planet.

This artist conception of NASA Mars Science Laboratory portrays use of the rover ChemCam instrument to identify the chemical composition of a rock sample on the surface of Mars.

Artist concept of a magneto-optical trap and atom chip to be used by NASA Cold Atom Laboratory CAL aboard the International Space Station.

NASA Mars Science Laboratory, a mobile robot for investigating Mars past or present ability to sustain microbial life, is in development for a launch opportunity in 2011 previously 2009.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, 2nd from left, his wife Karen, and daughter Charlotte are given a tour of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory by JPL Director Michael Watkins, Saturday, April 28, 2018 in Pasadena, California. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

JPL Director Michael Watkins, standing, explains the history of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the use of the Mission Support Area to Vice President Mike Pence, right, and Executive Director of the National Space Council Scott Pace during a tour of JPL, Saturday, April 28, 2018 in Pasadena, California. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Soil Fills Phoenix Laboratory Cell

A NASA Dryden Flight Research Center F/A-18 852 aircraft performs a roll during June 2011 flight tests of a Mars landing radar. A test model of the landing radar for NASA Mars Science Laboratory mission is inside a pod under the aircraft left wing.

Materials and Structures Laboratory, Building 49

Materials and Structures Laboratory, Building 49

The Fuel Burner Rig is a test laboratory at NASA Glenn, which subjects new jet engine materials, treated with protective coatings, to the hostile, high temperature, high velocity environment found inside aircraft turbine engines. These samples face 200-mile per hour flames to simulate the temperatures of aircraft engines in flight. The rig can also simulate aircraft carrier and dusty desert operations where salt and sand can greatly reduce engine life and performance.

JPL Director Michael Watkins, left, explains to U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, daughter of Mike Pence, Charlotte Pence, and wife of Mike Pence, Karen Pence the progress for the Mars 2020 mission while inside the Spacecraft Assembly Facility (SAF) during a tour of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Saturday, April 28, 2018 in Pasadena, California. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, his wife Karen, and their daughter Charlotte shake hands with Mars Curiosity Mission ACE Walt Hoffman, right, during a tour of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Saturday, April 28, 2018 in Pasadena, California. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

This is an artist concept of NASA Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft during its cruise phase between launch and final approach to Mars. The spacecraft includes a disc-shaped cruise stage on the left attached to the aeroshell.

This artist concept depicts the interaction of NASA Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft with the upper atmosphere of Mars during the entry, descent and landing of the Curiosity rover onto the Martian surface.

Out of more than 30 sites considered as possible landing targets for NASA Mars Science Laboratory mission, by November 2008 four of the most intriguing places on Mars rose to the final round of the site-selection process.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence can be seen with his wife Karen Pence as they toured NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Saturday, April 28, 2018 in Pasadena, California. The vice President was also joined by his daughter Charlotte Pence, JPL Distinguished Visiting Scientist and Spouse of UAG Chairman James Ellis, Elisabeth Pate-Cornell , UAG Chairman, Admiral (Ret) James Ellis , Executive Director of the National Space Council Scott Pace, JPL Deputy Director Lt. Gen. (Ret) Larry James, and California Institute of Technology President Thomas Rosenbaum. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

An artist concept of NASA Mars Science Laboratory left serves to compare it with Spirit, one of NASA twin Mars Exploration Rovers

View of Crew Medical Restraint System (CMRS),in the U.S. Laboratory. Photo was taken during Expedition 34.

View of Robonaut 2 during a round of testing,in the U.S. Laboratory. Photo was taken during Expedition 34.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, right, is shown the Mars 2020 spacecraft descent stage from inside the Spacecraft Assembly Facility (SAF) by JPL Director Michael Watkins, left, and NASA Mars Exploration Manager Li Fuk at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Saturday, April 28, 2018 in Pasadena, California. Mars 2020 is a Mars rover mission by NASA's Mars Exploration Program with a planned launch in 2020. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, left, thanks JPL Deputy Director Lt. Gen. (Ret) Larry James, JPL Director Michael Watkins, JPL Distinguished Visiting Scientist and Spouse of UAG Chairman James Ellis, Elisabeth Pate-Cornell , UAG Chairman, Admiral (Ret) James Ellis , and California Institute of Technology President Thomas Rosenbaum, right, for giving him a tour of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Saturday, April 28, 2018 in Pasadena, California. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, his wife Karen, and their daughter Charlotte are shown how to send a command to the Curiosity rover on Mars by Mars Curiosity Mission ACE Walt Hoffman during a tour of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Saturday, April 28, 2018 in Pasadena, California. Hoffman asked Charlotte Pence if she would do the honors of sending the command to the rover. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, 2nd from right, is shown the Mars 2020 spacecraft descent stage from inside the Spacecraft Assembly Facility (SAF) by JPL Director Michael Watkins, to the Vice President's left, and NASA Mars Exploration Manager Li Fuk at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Saturday, April 28, 2018 in Pasadena, California. Mars 2020 is a Mars rover mission by NASA's Mars Exploration Program with a planned launch in 2020. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, 3rd from left, his wife Karen, and their daughter Charlotte meet with JPL Director Michael Watkins, and Mars Curiosity Mission ACE Walt Hoffman, right, during a tour of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Saturday, April 28, 2018 in Pasadena, California. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Employees at Space Launch Complex 41 of Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., keep watch as the payload fairing containing NASA Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft is lifted up the side of the Vertical Integration Facility on Nov. 3, 2011.

Langley’s newly built Measurement Systems Laboratory will serve as the primary research and development location for six branches within the Research and Engineering Directorates. The ribbon cutting will take place in April 2022.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, 3rd from right, tours NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory along with his wife Karen, and daughter Charlotte, Saturday, April 28, 2018 in Pasadena, California. Joining the Vice President t and his family on the tour are: UAG Chairman, Admiral (Ret) James Ellis , left, JPL Distinguished Visiting Scientist and Spouse of UAG Chairman James Ellis, Elisabeth Pate-Cornell, behind Mrs. Pence, California Institute of Technology President Thomas Rosenbaum, JPL Director Michael Watkins, and JPL Deputy Director Lt. Gen. (Ret) Larry James, right. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

JPL Director Michael Watkins, standing, explains the history of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the use of the Mission Support Area to Vice President Mike Pence, seated next to his wife Karen and daughter Charlotte Pence, during a tour of JPL, Saturday, April 28, 2018 in Pasadena, California. Joining the Vice President was, JPL Distinguished Visiting Scientist and Spouse of UAG Chairman James Ellis, Elisabeth Pate-Cornell, left, UAG Chairman, Admiral (Ret) James Ellis, JPL Deputy Director Lt. Gen. (Ret) Larry James, and California Institute of Technology President Thomas Rosenbaum. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, 2nd from left, poses for a group photograph with JPL Director Michael Watkins, left, JPL Deputy Director Lt. Gen. (Ret) Larry James, California Institute of Technology President Thomas Rosenbaum, JPL Distinguished Visiting Scientist and Spouse of UAG Chairman James Ellis, Elisabeth Pate-Cornell, and UAG Chairman, Admiral (Ret) James Ellis, right, after having toured NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Saturday, April 28, 2018 in Pasadena, California. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

These three images show the progression of tacking NASA Mars Science Laboratory rover and its descent stage in one of NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s clean room.

Engineers from NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Alliance Spacesystems are testing the range of motion of the Mars Science Laboratory rover’s robotic arm joints.

In the middle of this image taken at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the long robotic arm of NASA Mars Science Laboratory is bent at nearly a 90-degree angle.

Scarecrow, a mobility-testing model for NASA Mars Science Laboratory, easily traverses large rocks in the Mars Yard testing area at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

An engineering model for NASA Mars Science Laboratory makes its way up a hill in the Mars Yard testing area at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

JPL Director Michael Watkins, left, explains the history of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the use of the Mission Support Area to Vice President Mike Pence, seated 4th from left, during a tour of JPL, Saturday, April 28, 2018 in Pasadena, California. Joining the Vice President was, JPL Distinguished Visiting Scientist and Spouse of UAG Chairman James Ellis, Elisabeth Pate-Cornell, left, UAG Chairman, Admiral (Ret) James Ellis, Executive Director of the National Space Council Scott Pace, wife of Mike Pence, Karen Pence, daughter of Mike Pence, Charlotte Pence, and JPL Deputy Director Lt. Gen. (Ret) Larry James. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Martian Soil Ready for Robotic Laboratory Analysis

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, 5th from left, joined by his wife Karen Pence, left, and daughter Charlotte Pence. 2nd from left, view the Vehicle System Test Bed (VSTB) rover in the Mars Yard during a tour of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Saturday, April 28, 2018 in Pasadena, California. NASA Mars Exploration Manager Li Fuk, 2nd from left, JPL Director Michael Watkins, Mars Curiosity Engineering Operations Team Chief Megan Lin, and MSL Engineer Sean McGill, right, helped explain to the Vice President and his family how they use these test rovers. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

View of drink packets floating,in the U.S. Laboratory. Orange-pineapple drink,cold water,and Kona-coffee (black) are visible. Photo was taken during Expedition 34.

NASA Glenn Flight Simulator Laboratory

NASA Glenn Flight Simulator Laboratory

NASA Glenn Flight Simulator Laboratory

LISA SMITH, THE TRAINING TEAM LEAD IN MARSHALL'S MISSION OPERATIONS LAB, EXAMINES THE DRAWERS IN THE GLACIER MOCK-UP, A TRAINING VERSION OF A FREEZER ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION INSTALLED IN THE MARSHALL CENTER'S LABORATORY TRAINING COMPLEX

Arnold Gonzales, a 20-year veteran of the NASA Armstrong Calibration Laboratory, uses a digital protractor to calibrate an item sent to the lab at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in California.

This photograph of the NASA Mars Science Laboratory rover, Curiosity, was taken during mobility testing on June 3, 2011. The location is inside the Spacecraft Assembly Facility at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

In the middle of this image taken at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the long robotic arm of NASA Mars Science Laboratory rises straight up toward the ceiling of the lab where it is being tested.

This wide-angle view shows the High Bay 1 cleanroom inside the Spacecraft Assembly Facility at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Specialists are working on components of NASA Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft.

This photograph of the NASA Mars Science Laboratory rover, Curiosity, was taken during mobility testing on June 3, 2011. The location is inside the Spacecraft Assembly Facility at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

This sequence of false-color images shows the formation of a Bose-Einstein condensate in the Cold Atom Laboratory prototype at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory as the temperature gets progressively closer to absolute zero.

This photograph of the NASA Mars Science Laboratory rover, Curiosity, was taken during mobility testing on June 3, 2011. The location is inside the Spacecraft Assembly Facility at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

The rover for NASA Mars Science Laboratory mission, named Curiosity, is seen here inside the Spacecraft Assembly Facility at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Support equipment is holding the rover slightly off the floor.