The Perseverance rover, which is trundling in the Jazero crater, grabbed its 12th sample from Mars to be sent to Earth with future missions. The samples are needed to study in depth and find if life ever existed on the Red Planet. The rover has named its collection of 12 rock samples the dusty dozen.
"Call them the dusty dozen. I’ve now got 12 rock core samples on board, collected while #SamplingMars at these different sites around Jezero Crater," Perseverance said in a tweet. The Perseverance team had earlier said that plans are coming together to bring these samples back to Earth.
"A new group of robots (including next-gen helicopters!) could join me for an unprecedented team-up," Perseverance had tweeted. The SUV-sized rover has been equipped to collect a total of 38 rock samples and it has been filling up the tubes one at a time. These samples are passed through witness tubes, which are pre-loaded with a variety of witness materials that can capture molecular and particulate contaminants.
Call them the “dusty dozen.” I’ve now got 12 rock core samples on board, collected while #SamplingMars at these different sites around Jezero Crater. Learn more about all my samples, and keep track of the ones still to come: https://t.co/SuSfqejyOZ pic.twitter.com/5VoaJjj3Xh
The Jet propulsion Laboratory, which drives the rover on Mars, said that images of several sample collection system components were taken after the completion of the coring activity. In those images, two small pieces of debris were visible a small object on the coring bit (stored in the bit carousel) and a small hairline object on the drill chuck.
Also Read | Satellites no longer usable: ISRO declares SSLV maiden mission as failure
"The team is now looking into the origin of the debris, and whether it originated from the rover or external debris from the entry, descent, and landing (EDL) system that was jettisoned at the start of the mission," JPL said in a blog update.
Nasa has said that work on returning the first samples from Mars to Earth has commenced and the first rock and soil material from the next-door neighbour will arrive on Earth in 2033. The mission will see several robots and helicopters teaming up to gather the samples and lift them off from the surface of the Red Planet, pushing it on a trajectory to Earth.
The American space agency has decided to go ahead with two sample recovery helicopters, based on the design of the Ingenuity helicopter that has performed exceptionally well in the Martian environment. Nasa is collaborating with the European Space Agency (ESA) on the sample return campaign. ESA will be responsible for developing the sample transfer arm along with the Earth Return Orbiter.
Also Read | What happens if Russia suddenly walks out of Space Station? Nasa has a plan
US Navy ship Charles Drew arrives in India for repair; major boost to 'Aatmanirbharta in Defence'
#NationalAnthem trends on Rabindranath Tagore’s death anniversary as netizens share clips
Rishi Sunak’s one complaint about wife involves shoes, clothes
'Safety is paramount': Aviation minister as glitches, mishaps plague Indian airlines
NIA arrests ‘active ISIS member' from Delhi ahead of Independence Day
PM Modi chairs Niti Aayog meet, KCR and Nitish Kumar absent
CWG | Have never accepted defeat in life, says Gold medalist Nikhat
Watch: Isro launches inaugural SSLV with EOS-02, AzadiSAT
Indian airlines Akasa Air’s first flight takes off on Mumbai-Ahmedabad route
Maruti vs. Airbags: Why Is Indian Car-Maker Maruti Resisting Airbags?
Ashok Gehlot’s remark on rape cases fans row, BJP mounts attack
China used 14 warships, 66 aircraft in Sunday drills: Taiwan
Copyright © 2022 Living Media India Limited. For reprint rights: Syndications Today
Add IndiaToday to Home Screen