Mars is making headlines again! This time, NASA’s Perseverance rover has discovered a variety of interesting rocks around Jezero Crater, and scientists are loving it. These rocks are giving new clues about the planet’s ancient past, and possibly even signs that Mars once had water.
Since December last year, Perseverance has been exploring the western rim of Jezero Crater, especially a tall slope called Witch Hazel Hill. Experts believe this area could reveal what Mars was like long ago, maybe when it still had lakes or even a more Earth-like climate.
In just the past few months, this car-sized rover has collected five rock samples, closely studied seven more, and used its laser to zap and examine 83 other rocks. According to NASA, this is the fastest pace of science work since Perseverance landed on Mars four years ago.
“Before, it could take months to find a rock different enough to be worth sampling. But here on the crater rim, exciting rocks are everywhere!” said Katie Morgan, the Perseverance project scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab.
One of the most amazing finds is a rock named Silver Mountain. NASA says this sample could be more than 3.9 billion years old. Perseverance also found a rock rich in serpentine, a mineral that forms when water mixes with volcanic rock. This process can produce hydrogen, which is an energy source for life. Could this mean ancient Mars supported life? Maybe!
However, while the science is moving fast, the next step of the mission, bringing these rocks back to Earth, is still uncertain. NASA’s Mars Sample Return project has run into some problems, like rising costs (up to $11 billion!) and a delay in the timeline (possibly not before 2040).
NASA is now rethinking the whole plan and asking for new ideas from space companies and scientists to find a faster and cheaper way to bring the samples home. We’ll have to wait until mid-2026 to know what the new plan is.
For now, Perseverance continues exploring, and who knows, there may be more Martian surprises just around the corner.