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On the Red Planet, the rover continues to climb to the top of the Lake Crater to explore new terrain.
Recently, NASA's Mars rover Perseverance took a short break in its expedition to review the path traveled on Mars, writes Space.com.
Not so long ago, Perseverance finished its work on the plains of Lake Crater and began the difficult climb up its western rim. It was on this path that the rover stopped to admire the wonderful landscape and send exciting pictures to Earth.
The mission team "stitched" 44 photos that were taken by the rover to create a beautiful Martian landscape.
"If you look at the right side of the mosaic we have assembled, you will understand what we are dealing with now. Mars didn't want anyone to get to the top of that ridge without effort," says Perseverance deputy project manager Rick Welch of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
The pictures were taken when the rover was halfway to the western edge of the crater. Perseverance is not expected to reach its summit until early December, having begun its ascent in mid-August.
NASA officials note that the ridge that Perseverance is currently climbing has a slope of about 20 degrees.
"The rovers have traveled over steeper terrain, as well as over more slippery surfaces, but this is the first time we have to deal with both at the same time," Perseverance mission "driver" Camden Miller said.
“For every two steps Perseverance takes, it has to take at least one step back. Therefore, our team came up with several options," NASA notes.
Possible options included moving the Perseverance rover backwards, making sharp turns "across the slope," and staying closer to the northern edges of the slope, where larger rocks lie on the surface to increase traction.
All three strategies were useful, but the north edge method seemed to perform better than the others.
