The Perseverance rover has collected its 12th rock sample on Mars, NASA announced earlier this week. These samples are being collected by the car-sized rover to be transported back to Earth for extensive analysis under the Mars sample return program. Both NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) are working together on this program that will begin in the fall of 2027.
The samples were collected from different locations in the 45 kilometer wide Jezero Crater, which is believed to have housed a huge lake several billion years ago. Perseverance landed at the site in February last year, as scientists believe it would be the most likely place to harbor signs of ancient microbial life if it had ever existed on Mars.
According to NASA data, eight samples collected by the Perseverance rover from September 2021 to March this year are volcanic, while four samples collected between July 7 and last week are sedimentary. The rover carries a total of 43 sample tubes, 38 of which are for Martian rock and dirt, while five are called “witness tubes.” These tubes are preloaded with a variety of witness materials that can capture molecular and particulate contaminants.
Of the 43 tubes, 12 now contain rock samples, one contains an atmospheric sample from the Red Planet, and the remaining two are witness tubes.
NASA prepares to bring back rock samples from Mars
On July 27, NASA announced that rock samples from Mars will arrive on Earth in 2033 under the Mars Sample Return Program. As part of this, ESA will first launch an Earth Return Orbiter in the fall of 2027, followed by the launch of the Sample Retrieval Lander in the summer of 2028. Notably, this plan is a refined plan and now consists of two new helicopters instead of a lander-rover combination.
The mission also includes the Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) and sample transfer arm built by ESA. Interestingly, this MAV will be the first rocket to launch to another planet when it leaves with samples collected by Perseverance. Tap here to read more about how the samples will be brought to Earth.