NASA’s Perseverance rover has begun its challenging ascent to the edge of Jezero Crater to collect rock samples that may lead to understanding important factors about Mars’ ancient climate and potential life. The rover, which landed in 2021, has explored approximately 29 kilometers and collected 22 samples so far.
According to RCO News Agency, NASA’s Endurance rover began its 1,000-foot (305-meter) ascent to the top of the Jezero crater rim on Tuesday to collect rock samples after wandering the crater floor for more than three years.
The samples collected by the rover may provide scientists with a valuable understanding of the planet’s climate billions of years ago and potentially lead to the discovery of evidence of ancient Martian life, according to India Times.
According to Steven Lee of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, the bedrock at the rim of the crater could provide clues about the formation of rocky planets like Mars and Earth. However, the journey ahead will be challenging as the endurance runs over months of rocky terrain and slopes of up to 23 degrees. “Persistence has certainly been a real trooper,” says Lee.
The rock at the top of the crater likely came from ancient hydrothermal vents, which are places where hot water and dissolved minerals emerged after circulating beneath the planet’s surface. On Earth, similar places, such as those found in Yellowstone National Park, are considered cradles of life.
Since landing on the Red Planet in 2021, the six-wheeled rover has collected 22 rock core samples from the once water-filled crater floor. NASA is currently investigating ways to transport these rock samples back to Earth for further analysis.
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