Mars Perseverance Sol 424– Right Mastcam-Z Camera: Mastcam-Z picture of rocks at Enchanted Lake. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU.
So, our very first action product at Enchanted Lake was to take a look at the rocks there utilizing the rovers remote science instruments in order to choose whether they fit the preferred requirements for tasting. The rocks at this website displayed many distinct– and intriguing!– attributes compared to the others we have actually studied thus far in Jezero. Yet after a thorough evaluation, the team chose to bypass tasting at this location. It was a difficult decision to make, but we feel optimistic about the opportunities that lie ahead. The data collected at Enchanted Lake will be used rather to develop context for future investigations of the delta.
While traversing along the delta front, Perseverance will continue to gather data to assist characterize the contact in between the crater floor and deltaic rocks prior to rising onto the delta itself. Our long-awaited sample of delta rocks?
Written by Mariah Baker, Planetary Scientist at Smithsonian National Air & & Space Museum.
Among the highest concern rocks to sample are those that make up the unspoiled delta situated on the western side of Jezero Crater. Because landing in Jezero crater last year, the rover has been drilling and investigating crater floor rocks to add to the sample cache. Last week the rover parked at a website called Enchanted Lake (see image listed below), where the team was hopeful we might sample deltaic rocks for the extremely first time. While passing through along the delta front, Perseverance will continue to collect data to help identify the contact between the crater floor and deltaic rocks before ascending onto the delta itself. Our long-awaited sample of delta rocks?
In this illustration, NASAs Mars Perseverance rover utilizes its drill to core a rock sample on Mars. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
One of the prime objectives of the NASA 2020 Perseverance mission is to gather a diverse cache of rock samples for eventual go back to Earth. Among the greatest priority rocks to sample are those that comprise the unspoiled delta located on the western side of Jezero Crater. This delta was among the key functions that drew scientists to this landing site in their look for ancient Martian life. A close evaluation of deltaic rocks is essential for comprehending their depositional environment and identifying whether this paleoenvironment may have been habitable.
Jezero Craters Delta Is Getting Closer: The stretch of Jezero Craters river delta is shown in this panorama of 64 stitched-together images taken by the Mastcam-Z system on NASAs Perseverance Mars rover on April 11, 2022, the 406th Martian day, or sol, of the objective. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/ MSSS.
Considering that landing in Jezero crater last year, the rover has been examining and drilling crater flooring rocks to contribute to the sample cache. The rover hadnt yet had access to the desirable deltaic rocks– until now, that is. After conducting a “fast traverse” towards the delta, Perseverance finally got to the delta front.
Recently the rover parked at a site called Enchanted Lake (see image listed below), where the group was hopeful we may sample deltaic rocks for the really first time. Since the rover can only gather a limited number of samples, the group must carefully weigh all options, keeping in mind what has already been sampled as well as trying to predict what we may experience along the rest of the traverse. Despite the fact that we are eager to drill into the delta, we need to exercise care.
