Ancient river on Mars paving way for search of life outside Earth
Currently, in its third science campaign, Perseverance is exploring a fan-shaped pile of sedimentary rock standing 130 feet tall.
NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover used its black-and-white navigation cameras to capture panoramas of “Marker Band Valley” at two times of day on April 8. (Photo: Nasa)
In Short
The sample was picked up from a region that has been formed by a river
Scientists will examine each pebble and fragment on Earth
These boulders offer a large surface area for visual investigation
Nasa’s Perseverance rover has successfully sealed its 20th rock core sample on Mars, marking a significant milestone in the mission’s quest to find signs of ancient microbial life.
The sample, drilled from an outcrop composed of tiny fragments of other rocks, offers a wealth of geological information about Mars’ ancient past.
The sample was picked up from a region that has been formed by a river that carried these fragments from various locations and deposited them at the current site. Each fragment within the conglomerate tells a unique geological story, providing insights into areas of Mars that the rover may never visit.