The Perseverance Mars rover is approaching one of the most challenging sites on Mars – the western edge of Jezero Crater, which has evidence of ancient hydrothermal activity. This exploration will be Perseverance’s fifth science campaign.
The rover has been on the surface of Mars for 3.5 years. During this time, it has drilled through rocks, taken images of the surface and the Martian Ingenuity helicopter, and collected rock samples that can be delivered to Earth for detailed analysis.
The main goal of the Perseverance mission is to find out if life existed on Mars. Billions of years ago, the planet had rivers and lakes, but now its surface is dry and rocky. However, the presence of liquid water in the past is an important factor for life as we know it.
A recent study published in the journal AGU Advances explores the astrobiological potential of rocks collected by Perseverance. It is believed that these samples may contain the oldest materials from any environment that could support life. Tanja Bosak, a geobiologist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, notes that these samples could reveal much about Mars’ past, particularly the presence of liquid water and possible biological evolution.
In a future scientific expedition, Perseverance will climb slopes of up to 23 degrees and about 300 meters to reach the top of the edge of Jezero, where a large lake was located billions of years ago.
The first stop will be a rocky ledge in the rover’s path called Dox Castle. Perseverance will then explore other interesting regions, including Witch Hazel Hill, which contains layers of ancient material that indicate a significantly different climate on Mars in the past.
Exploring the area may reveal new knowledge about the ancient history of Mars and the conditions that once existed on this planet.
We previously reported on how Perseverance found a crucial Martian rock.
According to gizmodo.com
