NASA’s Perseverance rover on Mars is amassing a unique rock collection, drilling cores of bedrock to potentially uncover traces of ancient microbial life.
So far, it has filled 20 titanium tubes with samples, setting the stage for future analysis on Earth.
MIT geologists have remotely determined the orientation of these collected rocks using the rover’s engineering data.
This marks the first time rock orientations have been discerned on another planet.
Understanding rock orientation offers insights into Mars’ past conditions, including magnetic fields, water flow, and tectonic activity.
Such knowledge could reveal why Mars transitioned from a warm, wet planet to a cold, dry one, possibly shedding light on its potential for past life.
The rover, exploring Mars’ Jezero Crater, aims to uncover clues preserved in its layered rocks, shaped by ancient volcanic activity and river flows.
This research, conducted in collaboration with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and led by MIT’s Benjamin Weiss and Elias Ma
nsbach, underscores the significance of Perseverance’s mission in unraveling Mars’ enigmatic history.
Source: Oman News Agency