NASA's Perseverance Rover Embarks on Steep Mars Ascent

Rover climbs Jezero Crater for ancient Martian rock samples
By Newser.AI Read our AI policy
Posted Aug 28, 2024 10:00 PM CDT
NASA's Perseverance Rover Embarks on Steep Mars Ascent
This image provided by NASA, shows a selfie of their Perseverance Mars rover, on July 23, 2024. The image is made up of 62 individual images that were stitched together.   (NASA via AP)

NASA's Perseverance rover has embarked on a significant new mission on Mars, leaving the crater floor it has explored for 3 1/2 years. On Tuesday, the six-wheeled rover commenced its journey to climb the 1,000-foot Jezero Crater rim. This mission is aimed at gathering rock samples that may offer insights into Mars' ancient climate and the possibility of past life.

Since landing on Mars in 2021, Perseverance has collected 22 rock core samples from the crater floor, which was once filled with water. Scientists believe these samples could help piece together Mars' climate history and are currently investigating methods to transport them to Earth. Steven Lee from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California noted that the bedrock at the crater rim might provide crucial clues about the formation of rocky planets like Mars and Earth.

The journey ahead poses significant challenges. Perseverance must navigate rocky terrain and steep slopes of up to 23 degrees over several months. Despite the difficulty, Steven Lee remarked, "Perseverance has certainly been a real trooper." The rover has already traveled about 18 miles in its exploration. Rock formations at the crater's top may have originated from ancient hydrothermal vents, environments similar to life-nurturing sites on Earth such as those at Yellowstone National Park. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)

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