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The Perseverance rover has collected a unique rock sample that could provide new insights into the geological history of Mars. NASA said the 2,9-centimeter-diameter find was taken from the Silver Mountain site on the rim of Lake Crater. According to scientists, the sample has textures that have not been seen in any other rock collected by the rover.
The special value of this stone is explained by its origin - the rocks in this area are believed to have been lifted to the surface of Mars by an ancient asteroid impact. They may be fragments of early Martian crust, which formed about 4 billion years ago during the Noachian period. Studying these samples will help to understand the early history of not only Mars, but also Earth.
Perseverance arrived at Mars in 2021. Its mission is to search for possible signs of ancient life, test new technologies, and collect samples for future return to Earth. One of those technologies was the Ingenuity drone, which far exceeded initial expectations, completing 72 flights before sustaining damage.
Despite the importance of the Mars Sample Return mission, its implementation remains in question due to the rising costs and complexity of delivering samples to Earth. NASA is expected to review the strategy in 2026. Meanwhile, China plans to launch its own sample return mission in 2028, which could allow them to obtain Martian rocks as early as 2031.
The Perseverance rover has collected a unique rock sample that could provide new insights into the geological history of Mars. NASA said the 2,9-centimeter-diameter find was taken from the Silver Mountain site on the rim of Lake Crater. According to scientists, the sample has textures that have not been seen in any other rock collected by the rover.
The special value of this stone is explained by its origin - the rocks in this area are believed to have been lifted to the surface of Mars by an ancient asteroid impact. They may be fragments of early Martian crust, which formed about 4 billion years ago during the Noachian period. Studying these samples will help to understand the early history of not only Mars, but also Earth.
Perseverance arrived at Mars in 2021. Its mission is to search for possible signs of ancient life, test new technologies, and collect samples for future return to Earth. One of those technologies was the Ingenuity drone, which far exceeded initial expectations, completing 72 flights before sustaining damage.
Despite the importance of the Mars Sample Return mission, its implementation remains in question due to the rising costs and complexity of delivering samples to Earth. NASA is expected to review the strategy in 2026. Meanwhile, China plans to launch its own sample return mission in 2028, which could allow them to obtain Martian rocks as early as 2031.
