NASA’s Perseverance rover retains dropping early Christmas presents on Mars.
On Friday (Dec. 23), NASA introduced that Perseverance efficiently dropped its second rock pattern tube on the Martian floor. And whereas it is not the primary Mars pattern Perseverance has dropped for a possible future mission to deliver to Earth in 2033, it actually is the largest.
“My second pattern drop is trying good!” NASA’s Perseverance rover group wrote in a Twitter update (opens in new tab) Friday. “This tube holds a bit of sedimentary rock from the sting of the traditional river delta right here — the longest rock core I’ve taken thus far.”
Associated: 12 amazing photos from the Perseverance’s 1st year on Mars
The longest rock core collected by Perseverance is a pattern referred to as “Mageik,” which the rover drilled out of the rock “Amalik” this fall from the “Enchanted Lake” area of historical delta in its Jezero Crater touchdown website.
“The tube itself is in regards to the measurement of a marker, and I measured the rock core pattern inside at 7.36 cm (about 2.9 inches),” NASA wrote as Perseverance on Twitter (opens in new tab). Perseverance dropped its first sample tube at a close-by spot on Wednesday (Dec. 21).
Perseverance is dropping 10 sealed tubes containing Mars rock samples, which resemble miniature lightsabers from Star Wars, for potential assortment by a future Mars Pattern Return mission. That mission and an orbiter may launch to Mars by 2028 and return the pattern tubes to Earth 5 years later. If all goes based on plan, Perseverance or two small helicopters will ship Mars samples to a lander that may then launch them into space so {that a} ready orbiter can accumulate them for the journey again to Earth.
The samples Perseverance is dropping are backups. The rover collected twin samples at every drill website, storing one inside its physique whereas dropping the opposite in case a backup is required. Perseverance is anticipated to ship those it carries to the ready lander if the nuclear-powered lasts lengthy sufficient to achieve the Mars Sample Return lander on the finish of the last decade.
NASA’s Perseverance rover landed on Mars in February 2021. It is main mission will final two years, however NASA hopes the rover may stay for much longer. Its predecessor, the nuclear-powered Curiosity rover, not too long ago celebrated its 10th anniversary on Mars in August.
E mail Tariq Malik at tmalik@space.com or observe him @tariqjmalik (opens in new tab). Comply with us @Spacedotcom (opens in new tab), Facebook (opens in new tab) and Instagram (opens in new tab).
