Mission to Mars UWL alum helps NASA uncover the mysteries of Mars UW-La Crosse alum is helping NASA uncover the mysteries of Mars. Andrea Connell, ’08, is part of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, which has helped oversee planning and operations for the Mars Perseverance Rover. Perseverance, which launched last July and landed on Mars’ Jezero Crater on Feb. 18, is collecting an assortment of information about the Red Planet — everything from rock and soil samples to potential signs of ancient life. The mission includes testing various technologies on Mars, laying the groundwork for the first human exploration of the planet. “We've already seen multiple flights from the helicopter Ingenuity, proving that we can fly in the very thin Martian atmosphere,” explains Connell. Join us on Wednesday, June 23, to learn more about her fascinating work.