NASA’s Perseverance rover has achieved a historic milestone by collecting a peculiar rock sample from the Jezero Crater on Mars, dubbed “Silver Mountain.” This 26th sample is unique among those collected so far due to its unusual texture. To preserve it for future analysis, NASA sealed the rock core in a titanium tube.
The Perseverance rover’s primary objective is to search for signs of ancient microbial life on Mars, and this sample collection will aid scientists in understanding Mars’ geological history and past climate. Jezero Crater was once believed to have housed a lake and river delta, providing conditions that might have supported microbial life billions of years ago.
NASA plans to return the samples to Earth between 2035 and 2039 for further analysis using high-tech equipment unavailable on Mars. The sample return mission will provide valuable insights into Mars’ climate history and potential signs of past microbial life.
This achievement marks a significant step in NASA’s ongoing research into Mars’ environment and potential for life. As the Perseverance rover continues to explore, it is expected to uncover crucial clues about Mars’ water timeline and geological changes over time. The public can track the mission’s progress through an interactive map on NASA’s website.
The success of NASA’s Perseverance rover is part of a larger effort in space exploration, with recent missions like Osiris-Rex returning samples from asteroids and other celestial objects. These achievements demonstrate NASA’s commitment to understanding our solar system and its potential for supporting life.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/science/nasa-perseverance-rover-discovers-silver-mountain-rock-sample-unlocking-mars-ancient-past-heres-what-experts-say/articleshow/117866819.cms