NASA’s Perseverance rover continues its mission to discover the Martian floor in the hunt for indicators of historical life
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Two of NASA’s robotic explorers, Perseverance and Curiosity, have made separate however equally thrilling discoveries on Mars — each suggesting the Purple Planet might have as soon as hosted life.
Although working greater than 2,000 miles aside, the car-sized rovers have been exploring historical craters for years, trying to find indicators that Mars was as soon as liveable. Their newest findings, each made in March, have scientists extra curious than ever.
Perseverance rover discovers uncommon spherical rock on Mars
Whereas travelling alongside the rim of Jezero Crater, Perseverance got here throughout a peculiar rock formation on 11 March. Nicknamed ‘St. Pauls Bay’ by the mission staff, the rock is roofed in tons of of tiny, dark-grey spheres, some elongated, others angular, with a couple of sporting curious pinholes.
NASA shared an in depth picture a couple of days later, taken with the rover’s SuperCam, and the invention shortly sparked scientific pleasure. Whereas related spherical formations have been discovered on Mars earlier than — typically defined as the results of groundwater motion by rock pores — this one seems completely different.
What makes it stand out? Scientists imagine the rock is misplaced, presumably linked to a dark-toned geological layer beforehand noticed from orbit by NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
“Understanding the place this rock got here from may assist unlock the geological historical past of Jezero’s rim — and possibly extra,” NASA mentioned in a press release.
Curiosity rover finds largest natural compounds on Mars
In the meantime, over in Gale Crater, the veteran Curiosity rover made a discovery of its personal — this time by reanalysing an outdated pattern often called ‘Cumberland’. Initially drilled again in 2013 from an space known as Yellowknife Bay, the powdered rock was not too long ago scanned once more utilizing upgraded strategies.
The outcomes had been exceptional: the most important natural molecules ever discovered on Mars. These molecules, believed to be fragments of fatty acids, are identified on Earth as key parts of organic life — though they will additionally type by non-biological processes.
“It’s the strongest proof but that natural chemistry on Mars might have as soon as supported life, or a minimum of moved in that course,” NASA mentioned.
Cumberland had already intrigued scientists with its clay-rich construction — clays that usually type in water — and its presence of sulfur, one other component important to life’s constructing blocks.
NASA plans to convey Mars rock samples again to Earth
Curiosity and Perseverance have been steadily accumulating samples throughout their respective craters — 42 in complete for Curiosity, and over two dozen for Perseverance, a few of which have been safely saved in a pattern depot on the Martian floor.
Now, consideration turns to bringing these samples again to Earth, the place labs can analyse them utilizing gear much more highly effective than what’s on board the rovers.
“We’re able to take the following massive step,” mentioned Daniel Glavin, senior scientist at NASA. “It’s time to convey Mars samples residence and eventually settle the query of whether or not life ever existed on the Purple Planet.”
The reply could also be locked inside a Martian rock — and if all goes to plan, Earth’s scientists may very well be holding it of their arms in just some years.