Nasa Mars rover may have snagged first rock sample for return to Earth
- Mars Perseverance rover attempts to collect its first rock sample
- Nasa plans to bring around 30 samples back to Earth in the 2030s
Nasa’s Perseverance rover succeeded in its second attempt to scoop up a piece of Martian rock for future analysis by scientists on Earth – probably.
Its first effort last month failed after the rock was too crumbly to withstand the robot’s drill, but data received late on September 1 indicates the process worked this time around.
The US space agency said on Thursday it remains a little uncertain, because images taken after the rover’s arm completed sample acquisition were inconclusive due to poor sunlight conditions.
More images taken under better lighting were expected back by Saturday.
“The team determined a location, and selected and cored a viable and scientifically valuable rock,” Jennifer Trosper, project manager at Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, said in a statement.
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“We will work through this small hiccup with the lighting conditions in the images and remain encouraged that there is sample in this tube.”