NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover is poised to begin the next leg of its Red Planet journey, with a final destination that promises to be the most spectacular yet. Next week, the rover will start ascending the western rim of Jezero Crater, where it began its Martian adventure three and a half years ago.
The team is excited about what lies ahead, as Perseverance reaches the top of this ancient lakebed. The rover’s ascent will take it through Pico Turquino, a slope featuring ground fractures that may be evidence of ancient hydrothermal activity. Next, it will reach Witch Hazel Hill, a light-colored terrain that offers a dramatic contrast to the typical Martian red.
The team hopes to collect samples at Witch Hazel, as they expect to investigate rocks from Mars’ most ancient crust. These rocks represent potentially habitable environments that have never been examined up close before.
Getting to this point wasn’t easy. Perseverance spent several months ascending Neretva Vallis, a channel believed to be the desiccated remnants of an ancient Martian river valley. The rover had to navigate boulders and sand dunes, rather than wading through water, since any ancient rivers that once flowed here are now long gone.
Perseverance’s journey brought it to Bright Angel, a striking off-white formation that may be some of the ancient crust itself, uncovered by erosion. Within Bright Angel lies Cheyava Falls, a rock featuring organic compounds and iron-phosphate splotches that resemble leopard spots. While these splotches hint at the possibility of microbial life on Mars, further samples are needed to confirm this.
The rover’s next stop may hold more clues about Martian life. Witch Hazel Hill has the same color as Bright Angel, suggesting a similar origin. Further exploration will be necessary to uncover the secrets of Jezero Crater and the Red Planet’s ancient history.
Source: https://www.space.com/mars-perserverance-rover-crater-rim-campaign