August 22, 2023
Meet one of many Martian samples that has been collected and is awaiting return to Earth as a part of the Mars Pattern Return marketing campaign. As of early August 2023, NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover has collected and sealed 20 scientifically chosen samples inside pristine tubes. The following stage is to get them again for research.
Thought of one of many highest priorities by the scientists within the Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey 2023-2032, Mars Pattern Return can be the primary mission to return samples from one other planet and supplies the most effective alternative to disclose the early evolution of Mars, together with the potential for historical life. NASA is teaming with ESA (European Area Company) on this essential endeavor
Be taught extra about Pattern No. 19 – “Melyn,” the primary pattern the rover collected after climbing up onto the traditional delta formation in Mars’ Jezero Crater. The rocks on this space had been deposited in an historical river setting, versus the rover’s earlier samples from the traditional lakebed. As a result of a sort of mineral known as carbonate discovered on this rock, scientists consider this pattern may very well be well-suited to document the signatures of previous water historical past on Mars.
Examine all of the fastidiously chosen samples: https://mars.nasa.gov/mars-rock-samples
Be taught extra concerning the Mars Pattern Return marketing campaign: https://mars.nasa.gov/msr
A key goal for Perseverance’s mission on Mars is astrobiology, together with the seek for indicators of historical microbial life. The rover characterizes the planet’s geology and previous local weather, paves the best way for human exploration of the Crimson Planet, and is the primary mission to gather and cache Martian rock and regolith (damaged rock and mud).
TRANSCRIPT
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MARS ROCK SAMPLES
SAMPLE 19: MELYN
TYPE: SEDIMENTARY
LOCATION: BEREA, UPPER FAN
RACHEL KRONYAK
SCIENCE OPERATIONS – MARS PERSEVERANCE ROVER
Rachel Kronyak: Pattern 19 is named “Melyn,” it was collected from the “Berea” outcrop from the higher fan marketing campaign.
This explicit pattern Melyn is exclusive as a result of it’s the first pattern of the higher fan marketing campaign. It is distinctive additionally as a result of it represents deposition in an historical river versus in historical lake deposits like we had been seeing decrease down on the Delta Entrance marketing campaign.
SUNANDA SHARMA
ASTROBIOLOGIST – MARS PERSEVERANCE ROVER
Sunanda Sharma: This pattern is attention-grabbing as a result of it has a number of carbonate, which was thrilling as a result of we’re seeing that story continued throughout the totally different areas in Jezero Crater. So we noticed some variations within the crater ground than within the Delta Entrance and now within the higher fan. This will begin to inform us a couple of movement that will have occurred or how widespread the water was, or if the crater was crammed a number of occasions with water, prefer it was crammed after which dried, and crammed after which dried. How would that present up when it comes to range and area throughout the crater?
Rachel Kronyak: This rock was deposited from flowing rivers that carried materials from exterior the crater into the crater and deposited them alongside the higher fan right here. And so we’re eager about studying extra about the place these rocks got here from. And since these had been carried in from river channels from exterior Jezero, that is the right pattern to reply these questions.
Sunanda Sharma: This pattern is a part of the gathering on the rover that can hopefully be introduced again to Earth.
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For extra data on Mars Rock Samples: mars.nasa.gov/mars-rock-samples
