Watchly Safety Review

Perseverance Mars Rover Landing- Inside Story

15:58 · 25.3M views · February 15, 2021

Minor FlagsReviewed June 2026

2Minor Flags

This video is an excellent, safe choice for curious kids — it's a detailed, enthusiastic behind-the-scenes look at NASA's Perseverance Mars rover landing with virtually no content concerns. Former JPL engineer Mark Rober brings genuine expertise and emotional authenticity to the story, making complex space science accessible and inspiring. The only minor note is one brief use of mild crude humor (a 'poop' analogy for rock samples) and a passing reference to the creator losing his mother to ALS.

Content Breakdown · 2 Categories

Strong & Crude LanguageA little

Minor crude language appears in the transcript with mild expletives used in an excited, celebratory context rather than aggressively or offensively.

See evidence (2)

“'kind of freakin' out' — mild euphemistic language”

“'another fricking planet' — mild substitute expletive used in excitement”

Hidden Advertising & Sponsored ContentA little

The description mentions CrunchLabs (the creator's own company) with a promotional offer, but this is transparently disclosed as the creator's own business rather than a hidden or undisclosed sponsorship.

See evidence (1)

“Description: 'I started a company called CrunchLabs… check out the current promotion where you get 2 FREE boxes'”

What Parents Need to Know

This video is a genuinely educational and emotionally resonant piece about NASA's Perseverance rover mission to Mars. Mark Rober, a former JPL engineer, walks viewers through the science of why Mars is being explored, how the rover works, and the nail-biting seven-minute landing sequence. Kids will learn real concepts like atmospheric entry, autonomous spacecraft navigation, oxygen generation from CO2, and the search for ancient life. The video includes real footage from the Curiosity rover landing in 2012, showing scientists and engineers in genuine emotional moments — including tears of joy — which is a wonderful model of passion for STEM. There is one lighthearted 'poop' joke used as an analogy for sample tubes, and the creator briefly mentions losing his mother to ALS, which is handled with sensitivity but may prompt questions from younger children. There is no violence, no advertising, and no inappropriate content.

Talk to Your Kids About

1Why do scientists think Mars might have had life on it billions of years ago, and what clues are they looking for?
2The rover has to land completely on its own without anyone controlling it from Earth — why is that, and how do you think the engineers felt watching it?
3Mark Rober worked on this project for seven years. What does that tell you about what it takes to do something really big and important?
4If you could design one instrument or tool to put on a Mars rover, what would it do and why?

Perseverance Mars Rover Landing- Inside Story

Protected Viewing

What's This Video About?

This will be cooler than the Super Bowl. Watch the live stream replay - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gm0b_ijaYMQ&ab_channel=NASA Main rover landing page- https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/ Cool rover interactive animation of the 7 mins of terror- https://eyes.nasa.gov/apps/mars2020/#/home?id=surface_operations&time=2021-02-18T12:44:05.006-08:00&rate=0 Spin the rover around in 3D- https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/spacecraft/rover/ Here is the video about why we should explore space even with problems here on Earth- https://youtu.be/lARpY0nIQx0 I started a company called CrunchLabs where we build a toy together and then I teach you all the juicy physics for how it works. So if you want to learn to think like an engineer and have really fun time doing it, check out the current promotion where you get 2 FREE boxes at https://crunchlabs.com You should also go subscribe to the CrunchLabs YouTube channel cause we’ve got some bangers in the pipeline- https://www.youtube.com/crunchlabs Music for the montage- Explosions in the Sky (Post-rock, four-member band from Texas.) First Breath After Coma https://youtu.be/w0o8JCxjjpM Your Hand In Mine https://youtu.be/cdiY6kijYHE Song at 11:21- Bottles by A Shell in the Pit- https://open.spotify.com/track/0m6GMysIDx3gcQc6TF6HEX?si=FhjTlbBbQKayFrYtrw0dlg

Frequently Asked Questions

What age is this video appropriate for?

This video is recommended for ages 8 and up. The science concepts — like atmospheric entry, autonomous navigation, and astrobiology — are explained clearly but may be most engaging for kids who already have some curiosity about space. Younger children can enjoy it with a parent to help explain the more technical parts.

Is there any inappropriate language or content in this video?

There is very minimal concern here. The only crude element is a lighthearted 'poop' joke used as an analogy for how the rover deposits rock samples, which the engineers on screen also laugh about. There is no swearing, violence, or sexual content of any kind.

Is this video educational, and what will my child learn?

Yes, this is a highly educational video. Kids will learn about Mars exploration, how rovers are built and tested, the science of entry-descent-landing, oxygen generation on Mars, and the human stories behind NASA missions. It's an excellent supplement to school science lessons on space and engineering.

Does the video contain any advertising or sponsored content?

No sponsored content or product advertising is present in this video. The creator does briefly mention another one of his own videos at the end of a segment, but this is a minor, non-manipulative cross-reference rather than paid promotion.

Is the emotional content in the video suitable for children?

The video includes genuine emotional moments, including engineers crying with joy when the Curiosity rover landed in 2012. The creator also briefly mentions losing his mother to ALS during his time working on the mission. These moments are handled with maturity and could actually spark meaningful conversations with children about perseverance, grief, and passion.

Does this video promote good values for kids?

Absolutely. The video models hard work, teamwork, scientific curiosity, and resilience. Seeing real engineers — diverse in background — celebrate a shared achievement is a powerful and positive message, and the creator explicitly says 'the first person to set foot on Mars is alive right now and it could be you,' which is genuinely inspiring for young viewers.