NASA’s Mars Perseverance Rover and the Search “Amongst the Sand”

Since February 18, 2021, Perseverance has actually been checking out the Jezero crater flooring, consisting of a direct exposure of rock and sand that the rover’s science group calls Séítah (which indicates “amongst the sand” in the Navajo language).

One of the primary expedition targets within Jezero crater is the unspoiled delta deposit, and much of the forecasted landing websites for the rover were clustered really near the scarp of this delta. However, throughout landing, the rover’s computer system diverted the rover far from the delta to the eastern side of Séítah, which itself was thought about too sandy and rocky for a safe landing.

While the rover’s comprehensive expedition of the Jezero delta will need to wait till later on in the objective, the rover’s landing website has actually offered the group a chance to go into the geology and origin of the crater flooring rock systems.

Mars Perseverance Sol 292– Left Mastcam- Z Camera: NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover got this image utilizing its Left Mastcam- Z cam. Mastcam- Z is a set of cams situated high on the rover’s mast. This image was obtained on December 15, 2021 (Sol 292). Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ ASU

During the very first couple of months of the objective, Perseverance checked out a greatly cratered rock system consisting of plentiful polygonal fractures and a structure comparable to a basaltic volcanic rock. In September 2021, Perseverance went into Séítah and started checking out a brand-new and various geologic system. The rocks in Séítah have an extremely fascinating structure, and are mainly consisted of the mineral olivine. The rocks of Séítah likewise appear really comparable to a geological system that covers almost 20,000 km ² beyond Jezero crater. Olivine is an igneous mineral, and is generally among the very first minerals to take shape out of a lava. Scientists on the rover group are attempting to comprehend how this olivine-rich rock might have formed.

One of the methods we do this is by recognizing “terrestrial analogues,” or rocks here on Earth that look comparable to what the rover is seeing on Mars One possibility might be ancient (3.5 billion years of age) lava streams emplaced in Western Australia, near the earliest excellent proof of life here on Earth is protected. The proof of life is protected in microbial mounds called “stromatolites.” Igneous rocks, like these Australian lava streams, can be quickly dated and can supply essential age restrictions on the timing of geologic procedures and conditions and supply context for any biologically moderated rocks that may be present. The olivine-bearing rocks of Séítah might supply essential context and restrictions on the timing of the Jezero crater lake.

As the rover finishes up its expedition of the crater flooring, enjoyment is constructing for the next stage of the objective: the Jezero delta. Will we discover proof of ancient martian life on the delta? Stay tuned.

Written by Adrian Brown, Deputy Program Scientist at NASA HQ.