NASA’s Perseverance rover is bravely ascending the treacherous western wall of Jezero Crater on Mars, navigating slippery slopes and pushing the limits of its driving capabilities. The rover’s ambitious journey aims to reach the crater rim by early December, where scientifically valuable sites await, including “Witch Hazel Hill.”
During this challenging climb, Perseverance captured a panoramic view of Jezero Crater’s interior, revealing the rover’s tire tracks and the difficulties of navigating the rocky terrain. The rover’s insightful observations contribute significantly to our understanding of this unique Martian landscape.
The panoramic image, a stunning mosaic composed of 44 images, provides a visual journey through Perseverance’s 3-and-a-half year Martian adventure. Iconic landmarks, including the rover’s landing site, its first encounter with sedimentary rocks, Mars’ first sample depot, and the final helicopter landing zone for NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, are all documented in this remarkable photograph. This visual record of Perseverance’s journey stands as a testament to the rover’s ongoing exploration.
This breathtaking vista was captured near “Faraway Rock,” approximately midway up the crater wall.
“This image not only reflects our past and present explorations but also foreshadows the obstacles we must overcome to reach our desired destination,” said Rick Welch, Perseverance’s deputy project manager at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). “As you observe the right side of the mosaic, you begin to understand the challenges Mars poses to our ascent.”
The right side of the mosaic reveals a steep incline of about 20 degrees. While Perseverance has braved slopes of this steepness before, this marks the first time it has encountered such a slippery surface on such a steep incline. Both Curiosity and Opportunity rovers climbed even steeper hills, but not on terrain this slippery.
Perseverance has been navigating a treacherous landscape, its wheels encountering loosely packed dust and sand layered with a thin, brittle crust. On some days, the rover covered only half its normal distance due to the slippery conditions, and on one occasion, it traveled a mere 20% of its planned route.
Camden Miller, a rover planner for both Curiosity and Perseverance at JPL, explained, “This was new territory for Mars rovers.”
Faced with this unprecedented challenge, the rover planners devised alternative driving strategies. They experimented with backward driving, which, based on Earth-based tests, can offer improved traction, cross-slope driving, and driving closer to the northern edge of “Summerland Trail,” the designated route up the crater rim. Data analysis revealed that driving close to the northern edge provided the most favorable traction, likely due to the presence of larger rocks near the surface.
“This current approach seems promising, but we may need to adjust our tactics along the way,” Miller added. “No mission has attempted to climb a mountain of this size at this pace. The science team is eager to reach the crater rim as soon as possible, and it’s our role to find a path for them.”
In a few weeks, Perseverance is expected to reach the crater rim at “Lookout Hill” before proceeding another quarter-mile to “Witch Hazel Hill.” Orbital data suggests that Witch Hazel Hill contains light-toned, layered bedrock. This location holds great scientific promise, allowing for comparisons with “Bright Angel,” the area where Perseverance recently sampled the unique “Cheyava Falls” rock.
Perseverance’s tireless efforts have resulted in the collection of 24 rock and regolith samples, plus one atmospheric sample and three witness tubes, in a quest to uncover the secrets of Mars’ past.
The Perseverance rover, a cornerstone of the Mars 2020 mission, plays a vital role in the quest to uncover evidence of ancient microbial life on the Red Planet. Its primary mission focuses on astrobiology – collecting and storing rock and soil samples that may contain traces of past life. In addition to its search for biosignatures, Perseverance investigates Mars’ geology and climate, offering valuable insights that pave the way for future human exploration of Mars.
As the first mission to gather and store Martian samples, Perseverance paves the way for NASA’s Mars Sample Return Program, a joint effort with the European Space Agency (ESA) aimed at bringing these samples back to Earth for thorough analysis.
Managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Perseverance is an integral part of NASA’s Moon to Mars approach, which includes the Artemis missions designed to prepare for future human exploration on Mars.
Interview between Time.news Editor and Camden Miller, Rover Planner at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Time.news Editor: Good morning, Camden! Thank you for joining us to discuss NASA’s Perseverance rover and its incredible journey up Jezero Crater’s western wall. The vistas captured during this climb are mesmerizing. Can you paint a picture of what it’s like for the rover as it navigates this challenging terrain?
Camden Miller: Good morning! Absolutely, it’s a thrilling endeavor. As Perseverance ascends, it’s not just about climbing; it’s dealing with various environmental challenges. The surface it’s encountering is unlike anything we’ve seen before—loose dust and sand topped with a fragile crust. It’s a delicate dance between the rover’s capabilities and the Martian landscape.
Editor: I understand that the right side of the panoramic mosaic reveals a steep incline of about 20 degrees. How does that impact the rover’s driving strategy?
Miller: That’s a great observation. While we’ve tackled steep hills in the past, the slippery conditions we’ve encountered on this incline present unprecedented challenges. To overcome this, our team had to innovate. For instance, we’ve implemented backward driving techniques which our Earth-based tests suggest can help improve traction. It allows us to navigate the slippery slopes more effectively.
Editor: Backward driving? That sounds intriguing! What prompted the shift in strategy?
Miller: Well, when we realized that the terrain was slipperier than we anticipated, we knew we had to adapt quickly. Our data showed that driving closer to the northern edge of “Summerland Trail” provided better traction due to the presence of larger rocks. It’s all about finding the right balance and adjusting our tactics on the fly.
Editor: What has the rover’s performance been like in these conditions? Has it met your expectations?
Miller: Perseverance has certainly shown resilience, but there were days when it only managed to cover half of its usual distance—sometimes even less than that. This is a testament to how difficult this ascent is. Each day brings unique challenges, but it’s also an exciting opportunity for us to learn and evolve our approach. We knew this mission would test the limits, and it is certainly living up to that.
Editor: You mentioned that this is uncharted territory for Mars rovers. How does that impact your planning and decision-making?
Miller: It adds an element of unpredictability that makes this mission so exhilarating and complex. Each new challenge requires real-time analysis and the flexibility to pivot our plans. The team has to be agile, thinking several steps ahead while also considering the rover’s health and safety. It’s a shared journey of discovery for everyone involved.
Editor: Speaking of journeys, the panoramic image covered 44 images and reflects Perseverance’s 3-and-a-half years on Mars. What key scientific goals are driving this mission as you approach Witch Hazel Hill?
Miller: Reaching the crater rim and sites like Witch Hazel Hill is crucial because they hold valuable geological and astrobiological clues about Mars’s past. Understanding sedimentary layers, for instance, can provide insights into past water activity and potential microbial life. The excitement is palpable within our team—we’re on the brink of potentially groundbreaking discoveries.
Editor: Camden, as a rover planner, what does it feel like to be part of such an extraordinary mission?
Miller: It’s an honor and a privilege. It feels surreal to be part of something that pushes the boundaries of human knowledge and exploration. Each successful climb and discovery is a shared victory, not only for the team but for humankind. Being on the front lines of a mission of this magnitude is both inspiring and humbling.
Editor: Thank you, Camden, for your insights and for sharing this incredible journey with us. We can’t wait to see what Perseverance discovers next as it continues its ascent.
Miller: Thank you for having me! We’re excited to share every bit of it with the world.