Mars’ Perseverance and Curiosity rover teams have collected enough samples and are awaiting their return home
Sulfur crystals, traces of serpentine, pyroxene, and feldspar were discovered. For example, data obtained from the Perseverance rover’s instruments show that Jezero Plateau is composed almost entirely of serpentine minerals, formed by the reaction of large amounts of water with iron- and magnesium-containing minerals in igneous rocks. A variety of photomosaics were also collected, and atmospheric measurements were taken.
Before the New Year of 2026, the Curiosity rover has almost completed its exploration of Mount Sharp
Before Curiosity’s landing 13 years ago, the science team observed all the geological wonders scattered across the slopes of Mount Sharp and eagerly awaited the day when they would be able to use the rover to explore them. Since then, the rover has visited many of these targets—valleys, riverbeds, lake beds—and discovered several unexpected places.
Curiosity Rover in Altadena Square – A Challenging Route and Amazing Mars Landscapes
The dark blocks that occasionally appear in the rover’s path are called floating rocks, and the team is looking higher into the hills to determine their origin. As intriguing as these blocks and boulders are, they pose a serious challenge for the rover’s drivers. They managed to get the rover to its intended stopping point, which is a significant achievement in itself. The mixture of large rocks and sand is completely unfavorable for movement. The risk of the rover shifting at the wrong moment, and the robotic arm colliding with a rock that the instrument is currently exploring, would be too great.