NASA Science: Advancing with Determination

NewsNASA Science: Advancing with Determination

The Mars 2020 Perseverance rover is living up to its ambitious name as it continues to explore the Martian terrain, seeking to unlock the mysteries of Mars’ ancient past. Recently, after a brief period dedicated to system verification and remote testing, the operations team has resumed full capacity, allowing Perseverance to advance its geological exploration.

Our most recent exploration efforts took place at a site known as “Mill Brook,” characterized by dusty, fine-grained paver stones. At this location, the team conducted an abrasion experiment at an area called “Steve’s Trail.” This experiment involved using remote sensing instruments to analyze the rock surface before and after abrasion. Notably, the SuperCam (SCAM) utilized its Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) and Visible and Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (VISIR) systems to investigate “Bad Weather Pond.” Meanwhile, the Mastcam-Z (ZCAM) captured comprehensive images of the entire workspace. These observations have provided invaluable data regarding the composition, texture, and potential alterations of these Martian rocks.

Following the completion of activities at Mill Brook, Perseverance embarked on a 140-meter (approximately 459 feet) journey to “Blue Hill” located at “Shallow Bay.” This site is of great scientific interest due to the abundance of low-calcium pyroxene (LCP) in its rocks, which marks it as one of the most intriguing sample targets for the mission so far.

The importance of the Blue Hill site extends beyond its immediate area. The presence of pyroxene-rich rocks suggests a potential connection to a much larger geological unit visible in orbital images captured by the High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE). This may be the only exposure of such materials within the planned path of the mission. Consequently, the science team has prioritized sampling this Noachian-aged outcrop, providing a rare glimpse into Mars’ distant past.

In a significant achievement, Perseverance has successfully cored and sealed a 2.9-centimeter (1.1-inch) rock sample from Blue Hill, officially designated as “Silver Mountain.” This sample represents the first Noachian-aged outcrop acquired by the mission, marking an important milestone in understanding the geological history of the Jezero Crater. Since the Shallow Bay-Shoal Brook area is the only location along the planned route that features this regional low-calcium pyroxene unit as identified from orbit, this sample holds immense value for future Mars Sample Return analyses.

Interestingly, as we embrace the Year of the Snake, the exploration has also turned its focus towards serpentine-bearing rocks. These rocks, which can potentially reveal critical insights into Mars’ past water activity and its habitability, have sparked significant interest from the science team. As a result, these serpentine-bearing outcrops have been integrated into the exploration strategy.

The combination of the Noachian-aged pyroxene sample and the newfound interest in serpentine-bearing rocks has made the journey through the Jezero Crater more thrilling than ever. Each step of the mission, including scans, drives, and core sampling, brings us closer to understanding the complex history of Mars.

As Perseverance continues to push the boundaries of exploration, the coincidence of scientific discovery and cultural tradition with the Year of the Snake serves as a reminder of the resilience and wisdom needed to achieve groundbreaking discoveries, both on Earth and 225 million kilometers (140 million miles) away on Mars.

We invite our readers to stay tuned as we continue to unravel the next chapter in Mars exploration.
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Neil S
Neil S
Neil is a highly qualified Technical Writer with an M.Sc(IT) degree and an impressive range of IT and Support certifications including MCSE, CCNA, ACA(Adobe Certified Associates), and PG Dip (IT). With over 10 years of hands-on experience as an IT support engineer across Windows, Mac, iOS, and Linux Server platforms, Neil possesses the expertise to create comprehensive and user-friendly documentation that simplifies complex technical concepts for a wide audience.
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