NASA’s Perseverance rover has successfully reached the rim of the Jezero Crater on Mars after a challenging climb. The rover, which landed in the crater in early 2021, took its first photos from “Lookout Hill” and marked the beginning of a new science campaign.
The rover had to navigate through tough terrain, including steep grades and slippery surfaces, to reach the rim. It spent 3.5 months ascending 1,640 vertical feet and tested various strategies, such as backward driving and switchback driving, before successfully reaching the top.
Perseverance is now embarking on its “Northern Rim” science campaign, which will see it drive 4 miles and visit four specific spots of geologic interest. The rover will also collect more samples and investigate ancient rocks that are among the oldest found anywhere in the solar system.
The team expects to find rocks that can tell us a lot about early Mars and inform our understanding of early Earth. One of the rover’s big science goals is to help answer whether or not Mars once hosted microbial life long ago.
“We’re excited to start this new campaign, which will take us on a journey through time,” said Perseverance project scientist Ken Farley.
Source: https://www.cnet.com/science/space/nasa-mars-rover-delivers-triumphant-first-photos-from-crater-rim