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.
The Perseverance mission to Mars. What has been learned after nearly five years of exploration on another planet?
A key goal of the Perseverance mission to Mars is astrobiology, including the collection of samples that may contain traces of ancient microbial life. The rover is studying the planet’s past geology and climate to pave the way for human exploration of the Red Planet and to become the first mission to collect and preserve Martian rocks and regolith. The Mars Sample Return Program, implemented by NASA in collaboration with ESA (the European Space Agency), aims to send spacecraft to Mars to collect these sealed samples from the surface and return them to Earth for in-depth analysis.
NASA’s Perseverance rover confirms the presence of an ancient dry lake on Mars
NASA’s Perseverance rover has confirmed the presence of an ancient lake on Mars that could hold the key to ancient life. Evidence of ancient lacustrine sediments at the base of Jezero Crater on Mars offers new hope for detecting traces of life in samples collected by NASA’s Perseverance rover.