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back to article Perseverance to take a second stab at Martian rocks ... but first it has to scratch'n'sniff

NASA’s Perseverance rover will make a second attempt at collecting a sample of Mars rock for eventual return to Earth – though it's going to scratch its latest target first to make sure it's worth bothering. The 1,025-kg, nuclear-powered trundlebot may be the most advanced vehicle to explore Mars yet, but it proved no match …

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  1. redpawn

    "The ultimate goal is to figure out whether Mars was once habitable"

    Is that for safe time travel to Mars?

    6 0 Reply
    1. teknopaul
      Reply Icon

      Re: "The ultimate goal is to figure out whether Mars was once habitable"

      It's to good a good picture of what earth will look like in about 20 years.

      1 0 Reply
  2. ravenviz Silver badge
    Coat

    Citadelle / Rochette?

    Are they starting to run out of names for things?

    About time they set up a what2words coordinate system!

    0 1 Reply
  3. Eclectic Man Silver badge
    Joke

    The Moon is famously made of cheese*. Is Mars made of crumble?

    *https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0qagA4_eVQ

    5 0 Reply
  4. Scott Broukell

    ". . disintegrated to dust and there was no solid core to collect. "

    That's it! Mars is made entirely out of dry-wall/plaster board! Some alien, planet bothering / diy enthusiasts, must have put it together just for a laugh millions of years ago!

    6 0 Reply
    1. Ken Moorhouse Silver badge
      Reply Icon

      Re: Some alien, planet bothering / diy enthusiasts

      They became extinct because they used space insulation that contained asbestos.

      4 0 Reply
  5. Ken Moorhouse Silver badge

    will remain on Mars for a vehicle to collect in an upcoming return mission.

    Make sure you get a collection note... you know what those Planet Link drivers are like.

    4 0 Reply
  6. Stratman
    Alien

    The rock in question

    Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Someone of a more conspiratorial mindset might say there are tool marks on Rochette.

    2 0 Reply
    1. werdsmith Silver badge
      Reply Icon

      Re: The rock in question

      Certainly the regolith formation by the bottom LH corner of Rochette, and beyond the top RH corner look like the tyre tracks you can see in the shade behind Perseverance’s wheel, but are probably aeolian formed.

      Picture is absolutely amazing and I can’t help but stare at it I’m wonder.

      0 0 Reply

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