After an arduous ascent to the rim of Mars’ Jezero Crater, NASA’s Perseverance rover is doing a bit sightseeing.
The most up-to-date cease on its Red Planet highway journey? A roughly 656-foot-long (200 meters) outcrop named Pico Turquino.
But it isn’t all enjoyable and video games for the Mars rover. Perseverance has been learning the native regolith and close by geological options with its Mastcam-Z and SuperCam devices from its location close to Pico Turquino. And quickly, the six-wheeled robotic will transfer on to abrasion testing on the web site, scratching the floor of among the rocks on this picture to review their composition and construction.
Through this work, the Perseverance science group hopes to unearth geologic proof that both predates or is said to the impression that shaped the 28-mile-wide (45 kilometers) Jezero Crater — and probably acquire samples for NASA’s deliberate Mars Sample Return marketing campaign. Ultimately, Perseverance is looking for indicators of doable life on Mars, and maybe the rocks at Pico Turquino would possibly maintain some clues.
Related: NASA’s Perseverance rover begins bold ascent up a Mars crater rim
This present quest is a part of Perseverance’s Crater Rim Campaign, the rover’s fifth scientific effort on Mars, and what NASA officers have urged may be “probably the most bold marketing campaign the group has tried to date.”
The journey started in August, when Perseverance left the Neretva Vallis area to make the roughly 1,000-foot (305 m) climb to the highest of Jezero’s rim. And for months, the rover has delicately maneuvered up the tough terrain of brittle crust; the rim’s higher portion has a slope of about 20 levels and is roofed by slippery sand and mud.
Along the best way, Perseverance has stopped to examine uncovered rocks, because it’s doing at Pico Turquino. And it’ll proceed to take action because it makes its approach to the summit.
The rover’s subsequent science goal is Witch Hazel Hill, however earlier than arriving there, it will move via a excessive level at Lookout Hill. From there, the group anticipates fairly spectacular views each of Jezero Crater and the terrain past. Stay tuned for extra photographs from Perseverance!
