NASA’s Perseverance rover has achieved another milestone in its mission to explore the Martian surface, securing its 26th rock sample. The small core, known as “Silver Mountain,” is just 1.1 inches long and contains low-calcium pyroxene, a mineral that forms rocks in volcanic lava, asteroids, and meteorites.
According to Dr. Katie Stack Morgan, deputy project scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the samples may offer an incredible look at ancient rock layers on Mars. The team is eager to see how these discoveries fit into the rover’s broader mission goals. Researchers first identified the areas of pyroxine using orbital scans from instruments aboard NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
The sample’s name suggests a sense of wonder and curiosity, reflecting the rover’s practical routine of cataloging significant samples. Drilling into Martian rock demands careful calibration of torque and pressure to prevent contamination. The rover’s Sample Caching System employs sterile tubes and meticulous handling procedures to ensure the integrity of each collected core.
Some experts believe that pieces of the Noachian crust of Mars, formed roughly four billion years ago, might be hidden within these samples. This era is characterized by heavy impacts and possible persistent water on the Martian surface. Volcanic processes, asteroid strikes, and a shifting climate have shaped Mars over eons, making it a prime target for studying rocky planets across the solar system.
Researchers use X-ray fluorescence to measure elements like iron, magnesium, and silicon in each newly exposed rock face that is collected. Clues from these readings paint a story of ancient processes that sculpted the crust. Gathering raw data is one thing, but interpreting that data is another complex challenge. Teams must piece together chemical signatures, cross-reference them with orbital maps, and then hypothesize how each rock layer formed.
The discovery of serpentine minerals near the new sampling site has sparked curiosity about past conditions where liquid water was present on Mars. If confirmed, these findings could offer fresh clues about chemical reactions and possible niches for microbial life on the Red Planet.
NASA plans to bring these Martian rock samples to Earth, but the timetable for Mars Sample Return remains uncertain due to projected costs exceeding $11 billion. Engineers are exploring alternative concepts, including specialized spacecraft and orbiters, to fetch the cached samples and analyze them with cutting-edge instruments.
Source: https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-collects-26th-rock-sample-on-mars-plans-to-bring-them-all-to-earth-for-study