Featured Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS
Topics: Science, Technology, NASA, Space
Emma Rosemurgey
Topics: Science, Technology, NASA, Space
NASA's Perseverance Mars rover has captured the clearest image of the Red Planet since its mission began five years ago.
The stunning panorama was pieced together using 96 different images taken by the robotic spacecraft in an area of Mars that scientists have dubbed 'Falbreen.'
In this particular image, scientists at NASA spotted a large rock, which appears to sit on top of a crescent-shaped sand ripple to the right of the mosaic's centre.
They were particularly drawn to this 'float rock' as it likely formed in a different area before being transported to its current location, by wind, water or possibly even landslide.
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Meanwhile, a bright white circle appears to the lower left of the centre of the image, which NASA officials say is an abrasion patch, which is where the Perseverance has drilled around 5 centimetres deep to see what's beneath the surface before scientists decide whether they want to drill further.
This particular patch is the 43rd piece of rock the robot scientist has abraded since landing on Mars, as it stores samples within titanium sample tubes.
"The relatively dust-free skies provide a clear view of the surrounding terrain," said Jim Bell, Mastcam-Z’s principal investigator at Arizona State University in Tempe.
"And in this particular mosaic, we have enhanced the colour contrast, which accentuates the differences in the terrain and sky."
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Perseverance Mars has been roaming around the Red Planet since landing in Jezero Crater in February 2021, where scientists believe lived a huge lake billions of years ago.
The car-sized mobile science lab was designed to search for signs of ancient microbial life as part of NASA's Mars 2020 mission, which aims to help prepare for a future human mission. It even has a tiny solar powered helicopter called Ingenuity on board making it the first aircraft to fly on another planet.
Ingenuity acts as Perseverance's scout, flying ahead to map out safe travel routes and helping it find interesting geological features to investigate.
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"Our bold push for human space exploration will send astronauts back to the Moon. Stunning vistas like that of Falbreen, captured by our Perseverance rover, are just a glimpse of what we’ll soon witness with our own eyes," said Sean Duffy, acting NASA administrator.
"NASA’s groundbreaking missions, starting with Artemis, will propel our unstoppable journey to take human space exploration to the Martian surface. NASA is continuing to get bolder and stronger."