Mars Rover begins to collect diligent samples samples | Currently USA | DW

The deep well is designed for taking soil samples. Its purpose is to search for signs of ancient microbial life preserved in ancient lake debris. Scientists suspect that there was a deep lake about 3.5 billion years ago, which emptied several times over time. Scientists hope to better understand the geological conditions of Mars.

“Perseverance” left Florida a year ago and landed in the Jessero abyss on Mars in February. NASA scientist Ken Barley said that since landing on the Red Planet in February, the rover has moved one kilometer south and is now in an area with very old rock.

Expects tremendous insights

“When Neil Armstrong took the first model from the Pacific Ocean 52 years ago, he began a process that led to completely new insights into the moon,” said research director Thomas Surbuchen. “I have every hope that Jessero Greater’s first diligent model and all subsequent models will do the same for Mars.”

The collected samples should be examined for their chemical and mineral composition to determine whether the rock is of volcanic origin or sedimentary rock. In addition, “perseverance” is the search for traces of previous microbial life. Scientists take years to analyze samples: NASA plans to collect samples with the European Space Agency (ESA) and bring them back to Earth by 2030.

Mars Rover “Perseverance” – shadows on the surface

A Chinese rover is also orbiting Mars

China first landed on Tuesday in May. The landing unit of the “Tianwen-1” spacecraft touched down on the “Zhurong” rover on the surface of the red planet, according to the Chinese space agency CNSA. CNSA President Zhang Kejian said after the statement from state news agency Xinhua that the project was “a complete success” and another “important milestone” in the Chinese space program.

“Tianwen-1” broke from Earth in July 2020 and reached Mars in February. The Chinese mission was one of three flights to Mars that took off from Earth last summer. The United Arab Emirates and the United States were also sending rockets to Mars at the time.

kle / ack (afp, ape)