Perseverance simply retains roving throughout Mars

by Eleanor Moreland | Rice College

Pasadena CA (JPL) Oct 18, 2024

All through the previous week, Perseverance has continued marching up the Jezero crater rim. This steep ascent via the Martian regolith (soil) can show to be sluggish driving for the rover, because the wheels can slip on the steepest areas. That is like making an attempt to run up a hill of sand on a seaside – with each step ahead, you additionally slip again slightly method down the hill! This simply means the Science and Engineering groups work collectively intently to plan sluggish and regular drives via this tough terrain.

Driving via the Mount Ranier quadrangle, the crew recognized a comparatively obstacle-free path to achieve the crater rim which they designated Summerland Path, aptly named from a extremely popular mountaineering path that ascends Mount Ranier. Perseverance is trekking to the subsequent waypoint close to an outcrop of rocks known as Pico Turquino, the place the science crew hopes to carry out its subsequent proximity science investigations with its devices PIXL and back-online SHERLOC.

Whereas roving alongside Summerland Path, Perseverance is consistently observing the encircling terrain. SuperCam and Mastcam-Z have been observing rocks on the bottom and on a distant hill, known as Crystal Creek. As well as, throughout this time Perseverance can put its eyes to the sky to make observations of the solar and ambiance. Final week, the Mastcam-Z digital camera captured photographs of Phobos (one in all Mars’ two moons) transiting in entrance of the solar!

Whereas the Mars2020 crew is itching to achieve the traditional stratigraphy uncovered within the crater rim, for now, the main target is on documenting our environment whereas navigating the ascent.

Associated Hyperlinks

Mars Perseverance Rover

Mars Information and Info at MarsDaily.com
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