Kodiak, the prominent layered mound, stands around 2 km from the rover and is a residue of the ancient Jezero delta. Scientists are using observations like this one to scout the rovers traverse along the delta and focus on science targets.
The delta is calling and we must go! With one Earth year in its rearview mirror, the Perseverance rover has been racking up the odometry en path to the website of its next science project. Its been a trip down memory lane given that leaving Séítah on Sol 340 (February 2, 2022) and retracing our tracks back to the Octavia E. Butler landing site.
Familiar views and rocks greet us like old pals as we are advised of all the amazing science and engineering we have accomplished so far piecing together the geologic history of our Martian house. However while our eyes (and cameras) are set on the delta, our job on the crater flooring is not yet done as we look for to gather our last crater floor keepsake before wrapping up our very first science campaign.
Our objective is to sample a Ch ał member rock, a greater standing stone that potentially represents a distinct geologic chapter in the crater floor history that we have not yet tested. This week the rover will be completing its usual tasting cadence of abrasion and remote/proximity science to further characterize the rock before coring.
Kodiak, the prominent layered mound, stands approximately 2 km from the rover and is a remnant of the ancient Jezero delta. Researchers are utilizing observations like this one to scout the rovers traverse along the delta and prioritize science targets. A Rock Named Sid: NASAs Perseverance Mars rover utilized its Left Navigation Camera (Navcam) to get an image on Feb 24, 2022 (sol 361) of target Sid, a greater standing stone seen here just above the rovers arm. Researchers plan to sample this rock prior to the rover heads to the delta for the missions next science project.
A Rock Named Sid: NASAs Perseverance Mars rover utilized its Left Navigation Camera (Navcam) to acquire an image on Feb 24, 2022 (sol 361) of target Sid, a greater standing stone seen here simply above the rovers arm. Researchers prepare to sample this rock prior to the rover heads to the delta for the missions next science campaign. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech.
As soon as we have our samples in stow, Perseverance will be kicking it into high equipment around the northern suggestion of Séítah and west towards the delta. There we will have the chance to examine sedimentary rock layers, clay minerals, and rounded boulders washed down from far beyond Jezero. These functions are vestiges of Jezeros watery past and clear indications of an ancient habitable environment.
If microbial life did exist here in the past, this is one of the best locations to look for it as finely layered muds may have buried and maintained a record of that microbial activity. Since landing, we have been collecting long distance observations with the Mastcam-Z and SuperCam instruments to read more about the structure and mineralogy of the delta.
The science group has actually been busy using these observations and orbital data from satellites to scout a traverse for our next project as we continue to check out Jezero and search for ancient life on Mars.
Composed by Brad Garczynski, Student Collaborator at Purdue University.