New strategy for Mars rover Perseverance after a failed mission
The Mars rover Perseverance. (Image: Dima Zel / Shutterstock)
The first attempt to take rock samples from the Martian soil was not particularly successful. Now Perseverance should make it in the second attempt. A new strategy has been worked out for this.
Within the next few days, the Mars rover Perseverance starts drilling again. Nasa assumes that this time sensible samples can be taken that do not disintegrate directly into dust. For this, NASA has selected extra rock that obviously does not seem to be affected by wind erosion. The rover is supposed to take the samples from the Citadelle ridge in the Jezero crater.
According to the space agency, preparing for sampling is a daunting undertaking and requires careful coordination between all the teams, scientists and engineers responsible for the instruments. “It’s a huge team effort!” Writes Rachel Kronyak, herself a NASA engineer, in one Blog post.
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In 9 steps to the rock sample
Kronyak also explains the nine milestones the team has set in order to make the mission successful. In the first step, the rover should drive to the designated sampling location. The first reconnaissance observations are then carried out there with the scientific instruments and cameras. Once the observations are complete, Perseverance will start the first well. The top centimeter of the rock surface is ground away with a drill so that an abrasion point is created.
This fresh rock surface within the abrasion point is analyzed with the appropriate instruments and the perfect target for a hole is set. A core sample is then taken from the rock with the drill. This sample is placed in a specially designed test tube in the safe belly of the rover, where a complex sequence of sample evaluation, imaging, hermetic sealing and finally storage is carried out. Finally, the newly drilled borehole is also examined and analyzed again. The last step in the plan is to withdraw from the point of withdrawal.
This precise plan should enable Perseverance to use its resources in a particularly targeted and efficient manner. Nothing seems to stand in the way of a successful rock test by Perseverance.
