In early June, NASA’s Perseverance rover encountered an unusual “opponent” — a rock that the mission team named Kenmore. At first glance, it appears to be an ordinary rock, but upon closer examination, its remarkable “character” was revealed.
When Perseverance attempted to grind a small area on the surface of Kenmore for mineral analysis, the rock proved to be incredibly stubborn. Instead of yielding smoothly, it shook and broke off. “Kenmore was a weird, uncooperative rock,” noted Ken Farley, deputy scientific director of the project. The team had to proceed with extreme caution, but they still managed to obtain enough material for further study.
To reach the valuable subsurface containing priceless time capsules — chemical evidence of ancient planetary processes hidden beneath the dust — Perseverance used its powerful gDRT dust removal instrument. Unlike its predecessors with brushes, it uses a jet of nitrogen, which prevents contamination from the Earth. This instrument has already made 169 shots, and its service life is far from over.
Sensational discovery
After clearing the surface of the rock, the rover deployed its entire scientific arsenal: macro cameras (WATSON), a laser spectrometer (SuperCam) for vaporizing and analyzing dust, and SHERLOC and PIXL instruments for detailed study of the chemistry of minerals.
The results amazed the scientists. In addition to the expected clay minerals, which clearly indicate the presence of water in the past, and feldspar, the team discovered manganese hydroxide for the first time in the entire mission. This mineral indicates much more complex geochemical processes in Mars’ past. Its formation may have been linked to the activity of ancient microbes or to unique atmospheric conditions that existed billions of years ago.
Kenmore’s strange behavior provided not only scientific data, but also important practical lessons for future research on the Red Planet. “Not all Martian rocks are the same,” Ken Farley emphasized. Experience working with such an unyielding rock will help improve methods for sampling, producing resources such as fuel, and even building future bases on Mars.
Perseverance keeps moving forward
Perseverance continues to strive for further achievements. On June 19, it set a new record for autonomous movement, traveling 411 meters along the edge of the Jezero crater. This distance is equivalent to 4.5 football fields covered in red dust.
Every complex rock like Kenmore and every unexpected discovery brings us closer to unraveling the deep history of Mars and paves the way for the success of future generations of researchers.
Earlier, we reported on how NASA’s Perseverance program helped prepare astronauts for flights to Mars.
According to Phys
