PREVIEW

This video shows: NASA’s Perseverance drives first backward then forward as it negotiates some slippery terrain found along a route up to the rim of Jezero Crater on Oct. 15. The Mars rover used one of its navigation cameras to capture the 31 images that make up this short video.

NASA’s Perseverance rover is taking on one of its toughest Martian missions yet - navigating its way up the steep western wall of Jezero Crater. It aims to reach the summit by early December.

As it climbs, the rover captured remarkable images of its journey, including a view back towards its 2021 landing site, and forward to the challenging terrain that lies ahead.

One set of images, a mosaic of 44 frames taken on 27 September, provide an expansive view of Jezero Crater and document Perseverance’s progress over its 1,282 days on Mars. Landmarks such as the rover’s landing site, its first encounter with sedimentary rocks, and the location of the first sample depot on another planet can all be seen in these images.

This view was captured from a point known as “Faraway Rock,” approximately halfway up the crater wall.

“This image not only captures our past and present, but highlights the considerable challenge ahead,” explained Rick Welch, deputy project manager of Perseverance at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. “Mars is not making it easy for us to reach the top of this ridge.”

The slope on the mosaic’s right side reaches around 20 degrees. While previous Mars rovers have tackled similarly steep inclines, this is the first time one has done so on such a loose, dusty surface. Perseverance’s journey up the slope has been hampered by slippage on this challenging terrain, at times covering just half the intended distance.

To tackle these obstacles, the Perseverance team tested different strategies on 3 October. One approach involved driving backwards up the incline, while another involved a cross-slope method, moving closer to the northern edge of the rover’s chosen “Summerland Trail.” Results indicated that sticking to the northern route, where larger rocks provide better traction, was the most effective approach.

“We’ve got a solid plan now, but adjustments may be needed,” said Camden Miller, one of Perseverance’s “drivers” at NASA. “The science team is eager to reach the top for the discoveries awaiting them, and it’s our job to make sure they get there.”

In the coming weeks, Perseverance is expected to reach the crater’s rim at “Lookout Hill,” from where it will proceed another 450 metres to “Witch Hazel Hill.” This location, based on orbital data, features light-toned, layered rock, potentially offering new geological insights.
Perseverance, equipped with 43 sample tubes, has collected 24 rock and regolith samples, alongside one atmospheric sample. NASA recently retired two spare empty tubes, leaving the rover with 11 empty sample tubes for upcoming explorations.

A key mission objective for Perseverance is astrobiology, including collecting samples that could contain evidence of ancient microbial life. The rover’s exploration will enhance our understanding of Mars’ geology and past climate, paving the way for future human exploration. NASA’s Mars Sample Return programme, in partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA), plans to retrieve these samples and bring them to Earth for in-depth analysis.

The Perseverance mission is part of NASA’s Moon to Mars exploration framework, which includes the Artemis missions to the Moon, designed to support human exploration on Mars.

Perseverance’s journey is managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, operated by Caltech.