NASA's Perseverance Rover is among the most advanced space tech the international space agency has ever developed.
(Photo : Photo credit should read HO/AFP via Getty Images)
This approximate true-color image obtained from NASA 19 August, 2004, taken by the Mars Exploration Rover 'Spirit' shows a rock outcrop dubbed "Longhorn," and behind it, the sweeping plains of Gusev Crater. On the horizon, the rim of Gusev Crater is clearly visible. AFP PHOTO/NASA
Ever since it was launched back in 2020, this space vehicle has been helping the National Aeronautics and Space Administration study Mars.
It sends essential images and needed rock samples for NASA to study. However, this space rover is still far from perfect.
Its flaws are seen in the latest statement by NASA Perseverance operators, saying that they are still troubled by the tricky Mars rocks. Here's what they shared.
NASA Perseverance Rover Troubled by Mars Rocks
According to Space.Com's latest report, the NASA Perseverance Rover is still busy examining some Mars rocks. The international space agency observes these samples to find essential key biomarkers.
(Photo : Photo by NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory/ Cornell University via Getty Images)
In this handout released by NASA, angular and smooth surface of rocks are seen in an image taken by the panoramic camera on the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit January 6, 2003. The rover landed on Mars January 3 and sent it's first high resolution color image January 6.
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It is equipped with advanced instruments, allowing NASA to understand mineralogy and elemental distributions. On the other hand, Perseverance's tools can also detect if the observed Mars rocks have organic molecules.
However, collecting the right Mars rock samples can be really tricky, as stated by the space rover's operators in its latest blog post.
"The rocks here at the ancient river delta are amazing, but so far none has been perfect for #SamplingMars. Some too fragile, some too jagged, but I'm sure I'll find the right one soon - I'm not called Perseverance for nothing," said NASA's Perseverance team via their official Twitter post.
Issues Faced by Perseverance Rover
NASA Perseverance Rover's operators said that the unpredictable characteristics of Mars rocks really affect their work.
They either get too fragile samples or rocks that have very irregular shapes. This was seen when the space vehicle tried to drill a hole into the so-called "Betty's Rock."
Because of the layered rock's characteristics, the Perseverance Rover's drilling attempt failed. You can click this link to see more details.
Meanwhile, experts claimed that NASA's DART Mission might actually deform a mini-moon.
On the other hand, NASA's Europa Clipper might crash into the biggest moon in the solar system.
For more news updates about NASA's Perseverance Rover and other space vehicles of the space agency, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.
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Written by: Griffin Davis
