Detailed Pics Of NASA Perseverance Rover Drilling Hole In Martian Rock 'Rochette'
NASA's Perseverance rover just drilled a hole into a Mars space rock. Was it successful? What do scientists hope to find with it?
Ever wondered what the inside of Martian rock looks like? NASA's Mars rover Perseverance may be able offer us a glimpse.
The Mars rover has been assessing rocks on Mars to find evidence of past life on the red planet. As part of this exercise, Perseverance drilled a hole into a briefcase-sized rock, now named "Rochette".
NASA/JPL-Caltech
Rochette the Mars rock
Perseverance attempted its first series of drilling assignment recently, and NASA images from September 1 suggest that its coring mission may have been successful after a previous failure in August. Perseverance was launched in July 2020 and is currently in its infancy stage on Mars.
#SamplingMars is underway. I¡¯ve drilled into my rock target, and my team will be looking at more data and images to confirm if we were able to get and retain an intact core.
¡ª NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) September 2, 2021
Latest images: https://t.co/Ex1QDo3eC2 pic.twitter.com/OqezgznnPi
NASA/JPL-Caltech
It is fitted with a series of tools to help with exploration on the planet, including a tool called Rock Abrasion Tool (RAT). According to NASA, this is a "high-speed grinder" with brushes that help remove outer layer of rocks and clear dust.
Voila ¨C a window into this rock we call ¡°Rochette.¡± I ground away its outer surface to see what it¡¯s like inside. I¡¯ll study this spot with various tools, to help decide whether to go for a sample with my coring drill. #SamplingMars https://t.co/jQN5AK1EBl pic.twitter.com/8rmbeYj4Db
¡ª NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) August 28, 2021
Also read: Former NASA Scientist's Crazy Theory On Moving Earth's Orbit By Asteroids
In addition, Perseverance comes with a Gaseous Dust Removal Tool (GDRT) to clear away dust. Earlier, the attempt went awry after the sample tube didn't record any sample but was sealed prematurely.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
Now, NASA used its Mastcam-Z camera to check the tube for the sample before sealing it away for good.
#SamplingMars update: first images show a sample in the tube after coring. But pics I took after an arm move are inconclusive due to poor lighting. I¡¯m taking more photos in better light to confirm that we still have an intact core in the tube.
¡ª NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) September 2, 2021
Read more: https://t.co/MqeD68KqYw pic.twitter.com/VYXErWrrEb
'Percuss to ingest'
After collecting the sample, Perseverance literally shakes it down! Called "percuss to ingest", the process is undertaken to get rid of extra residue from the tube. But NASA isn't too keen on putting the sample in storage prematurely.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
Also read: Bennu The Asteroid Poses More Danger To Earth Than Previously Thought: NASA
To this end, the space agency observed the tube in better lighting conditions with more sunlight to ascertain whether the sample actually contains rocks. It looks like the tube most probably got the sample it wanted.
I¡¯ve got it! With better lighting down the sample tube, you can see the rock core I collected is still in there. Up next, I¡¯ll process this sample and seal the tube. #SamplingMars
¡ª NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) September 5, 2021
Latest images: https://t.co/Ex1QDo3eC2 pic.twitter.com/gumqpmoXBW
Are you excited by this marvellous achievement? Let us know in the comments and keep visiting Indiatimes.com for your daily dose of all things science and technology.
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