Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
When you're going 200 mph — or preparing to send humans millions of miles away — small details make a big difference when the margin for error is slim.
Before they ever hit the track, race car drivers study every turn, surface change, and possible risk in advance of race day.
NASA is doing something similar ahead of sending humans to Mars: studying the planet’s surface. This includes mapping terrain, spotting hazards, and learning what lies ahead.
IndyCar driver Alexander Rossi of Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR) and Al Chen, manager of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program at the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, explore how racing and Red Planet exploration both rely on preparation, precision, simulation, teamwork, and knowing the course before taking on the challenge.
Discover these parallels through behind-the-scenes content from:
- NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California
- Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach
- GM Motorsports Charlotte Technical Center
For more information, visit: science.nasa.gov/mars
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Footage courtesy of GM Motorsports / INDYCAR, LLC. All rights reserved.
When you're going 200 mph — or preparing to send humans millions of miles away — small details make a big difference when the margin for error is slim.
Before they ever hit the track, race car drivers study every turn, surface change, and possible risk in advance of race day.
NASA is doing something similar ahead of sending humans to Mars: studying the planet’s surface. This includes mapping terrain, spotting hazards, and learning what lies ahead.
IndyCar driver Alexander Rossi of Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR) and Al Chen, manager of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program at the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, explore how racing and Red Planet exploration both rely on preparation, precision, simulation, teamwork, and knowing the course before taking on the challenge.
Discover these parallels through behind-the-scenes content from:
- NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California
- Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach
- GM Motorsports Charlotte Technical Center
For more information, visit: science.nasa.gov/mars
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Footage courtesy of GM Motorsports / INDYCAR, LLC. All rights reserved.
