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Mars: Why the samples collected by NASA’s Perseverance Rover are important

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KATHMANDU: SEPT. 13 – Scientists are excited after NASA’s Perseverance Rover collected a second sample of rock on Mars last year.

Perseverance had collected a finger-sized sample by drilling a hole in the rock on Mars on September 6.

Two days later another sample was collected.

Scientists believe the collected specimens were made from volcanoes. And the time of origin of those rocks can be determined.

The rock also contains salt. That indicates a change in the water, and eventually, the possibility of an organism surviving.

Or at least an indication that an organism existed earlier.

Just because there is water does not mean that the organism comes into existence. However, it is difficult to understand the existence of life without water.

Ancient structures are believed to have been preserved in the Triveni of the Jejro pit

NASA has sent a Perseverance Rover to the Jezero Crater, where billions of years ago, living conditions were found to be habitable.

Satellite imagery indicates that at one time there was a lake in the 45-kilometre-wide crater.

There is a huge river and in the western part, Triveni is formed and Thigar seems to have accumulated.

It is expected that the period of the aquatic environment of that time can be calculated from the rock samples collected now.

The “rosette” perforated to collect the specimen is at the base of the rock Jejero.

And that rock is supposed to be one of the oldest rocks in the pit.

If the time of the minerals in the collected samples could be determined, he would be able to estimate the maximum age of the lake.

The sample was collected twice by making a hole in the rosette rock

Presumably, there are salts such as calcium sulphate or calcium phosphate. These salts can hold small water bubbles.

“Salts are a wonderful mineral to preserve the signs of ancient life here on Earth. And we expect the same to be true of the rocks on Mars,” said Dr Percy, a scientist with the Perseverance Project. Says the girl Stack Morgan.

To do research, the specimens must first arrive on Earth.

NASA, in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA), plans to collect more than two dozen specimens within two months and store them in titanium tubes.

Such tubes will be left on the surface of the jigsaw. Later, other missions will bring those models earth by 2030.

“Because … because of the high scientific potential, we decided to take two samples from Rochette,” said Dr Stack Morgan said.

“… We have a strategy of taking two samples from each of the high priority locations to collect samples,” she said.

Paver Stone - The first perforated rock on Mars

Perseverance drove about 2.2 kilometres from where it landed last February to reach the Rochester rock.

Now the robot is heading for a high hill to the west, to a place called “South Cinta.”

Additional samples will be collected by drilling holes in the rocks at the site.

The Perseverance Robot is being monitored by a small helicopter named “Ingenuity”.

Perseverance inspects the destination before going anywhere.

Scientists later plan to send the rover north, where it is believed to have accumulated in the river and Triveni.

There is the highest probability of finding the remains of ancient life.

On April 6, Perseverance took a selfie.  This image is made up of 62 images.
On April 6, Perseverance took a selfie. This image is made up of 62 images

Meenakshi Wadhwa is the chief scientist of NASA’s plan to bring samples from Mars.

“I’m not exaggerating the importance of the rock samples collected by Perseverance. It’s a truly historic achievement – the interior of the first rock collected from another Earth planet. It’s amazing,” she said.

“Samples of these two rocks represent the beginning of sampling from Mars.”

“Ever since I was a graduate student, I have dreamed of analyzing samples brought from Mars in my lab. And now I feel that it can become a reality.”

On May 7, the helicopter landed at 423 feet, up 33 feet.
On May 7, the helicopter reached a height of 33 feet and landed at 423 feet