NASA’s Persevere rover captures a rocky passenger on the surface of Mars.
The rover has collected a “pet rock” inside its front left wheel, which has been with Perseverance since early February. So far, he has measured 5.3 miles (8.5 kilometers) with the rover’s perseverance as he passes his home in Jezero Martian Crater.
“This stone doesn’t hurt the wheels, but in its (no doubt bumpy!) modernization journey (opens in new tab).
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According to Ravanese, Perseverance captured the small rock on Mars on February 4, the rover’s 341st day (or Sol, Day of Mars) on the red planet. At the time, Perseverance was exploring a rock formation called “Moad,” which scientists believe is made up of ancient lava flows.
Since then, Perseverance has led the stone northwards through its landing site, named after the famous late science fiction author Octavia E. The remains of the area, which are the remains of the ancient delta of Jezero. The rover is currently at the center of NASA’s so-called delta front movement, and may have drilled through the first sedimentary rock on Mars, Ravanese wrote.
“The Rock of Perseverance is now far from your home,” Labanes wrote. “It’s possible that at some point boulders will rise along the rim of our future crater. If that happens, it will land on boulders that we hope are very different from them.”
If that happens, Ravanese adds, future Martian geologists may be a little confused when they find the rock is out of place.
Wandering rocks are no strangers to NASA’s Mars rover.
In 2004, the rover alma He picked up what Ravanes called a “potato-sized” rock in its right rear wheel, which eventually had to be removed. Cousin Perseverance, who roams Curiosity in August to celebrate her 10th anniversary on Mars, also picks up rocks herself with broken wheels every now and then as she continues her special mission at Gale Crater from time to time.
“While it’s unclear exactly how long these rocks remain, they tend to bounce back after a few weeks,” Labanes wrote. “The current Perseverance companion is setting a record for walking on Mars!”
Email Tarek Malik at tmalik@space.com or follow him Embed Tweets. follow us Embed Tweetsand Facebook and Instagram.