Perseverance first landed on Mars in February 2021 after a gruelling seven-month, 293-million-mile journey from Earth. Its multi-year mission is to scour the planet’s surface for signs of ancient microbial life with the ultimate goal of returning samples back to Earth and potentially pave the way for future human visitors.
The latest rock samples come from the floor of the Jezero crater, where Perseverance currently resides, which was chosen as the study site because it sports a large river delta that once flowed into an ancient lake. Scientists believe that a watery Mars could have supported life billions of years ago.
“These kinds of environments on Earth are places where life thrives. The goal of exploring the Jezero delta and crater is to look in these once-habitable environments for rocks that might contain evidence of ancient life,” said Amy Williams, a professor of geology at the University of Florida.
Williams is one of the long-term planners...