NASA'S Perseverance On Tuesday it began its 1,000-foot (305-meter) climb to the top of the rim after wandering below a crater for more than three years. Jezero Crater to collect Rock samples,
Samples collected by the rover could provide scientists with valuable information about the planet's climate billions of years ago and possibly uncover evidence of life on ancient Mars.
According to Steven Lee of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, rocks on the crater rim could provide clues about the formation of rocky planets like Mars and Earth. However, the journey ahead will be challenging, as Perseverance will travel over rocky terrain and slopes of up to 23 degrees over the course of several months.
“Perseverance has definitely been a real warrior,” Li said, noting that the rover has covered about 29 kilometers during its exploration.
The rock at the top of the crater may have originated from ancient hydrothermal vents, which are places where hot water and dissolved minerals emerge after circulating beneath the planet's surface. On Earth, similar places found in Yellowstone National Park are believed to be the cradles of life.
The six-wheeled rover has already collected 22 rock core samples from the floor of the crater, which was once filled with water, since landing on the Red Planet in 2021. NASA is currently investigating ways to bring these rock samples back to Earth for further analysis.
Samples collected by the rover could provide scientists with valuable information about the planet's climate billions of years ago and possibly uncover evidence of life on ancient Mars.
According to Steven Lee of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, rocks on the crater rim could provide clues about the formation of rocky planets like Mars and Earth. However, the journey ahead will be challenging, as Perseverance will travel over rocky terrain and slopes of up to 23 degrees over the course of several months.
“Perseverance has definitely been a real warrior,” Li said, noting that the rover has covered about 29 kilometers during its exploration.
The rock at the top of the crater may have originated from ancient hydrothermal vents, which are places where hot water and dissolved minerals emerge after circulating beneath the planet's surface. On Earth, similar places found in Yellowstone National Park are believed to be the cradles of life.
The six-wheeled rover has already collected 22 rock core samples from the floor of the crater, which was once filled with water, since landing on the Red Planet in 2021. NASA is currently investigating ways to bring these rock samples back to Earth for further analysis.