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JPL engineer Patrick DeGrosse reviews data from a drop test of a full-size lander footpad with a group of fellow engineers.
Going Over the Footpad Test DataGoing Over the Footpad Test Data
August 10, 2023
JPL engineer Patrick DeGrosse reviews data from a drop test of a full-size lander footpad with a group of fellow engineers.
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This setup is being used at JPL to test a 16-inch-diameter (40-centimeter-diameter) footpad for a future Mars lander. The footpad was plunged into ...
A Full-Size Footpad TestA Full-Size Footpad Test
August 10, 2023
This setup is being used at JPL to test a 16-inch-diameter (40-centimeter-diameter) footpad for a future Mars lander. The footpad was plunged into a testbed filled with 10,000 pounds (4,536 kilograms) of simulated Martian soil in order to see how ...
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Morgan Montalvo, another JPL engineer, sets guardrails on the floor below the prototype in a test of a scenario where the lander would “stub ...
Setting Guardrails for Mars Lander TestingSetting Guardrails for Mars Lander Testing
August 10, 2023
Morgan Montalvo, another JPL engineer, sets guardrails on the floor below the prototype in a test of a scenario where the lander would “stub a toe” against a rock while touching down on Mars.
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Engineer Abel Dizon explains how drop tests are conducted for a prototype lander being designed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory for the M...
Testing a Prototype Mars LanderTesting a Prototype Mars Lander
August 10, 2023
Engineer Abel Dizon explains how drop tests are conducted for a prototype lander being designed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory for the Mars Sample Return campaign.
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A development motor based on the second-stage solid rocket motor design for NASA’s Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) undergoes testing March 29, at N...
Mars Ascent Vehicle Second Stage TestMars Ascent Vehicle Second Stage Test
July 31, 2023
A development motor based on the second-stage solid rocket motor design for NASA’s Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) undergoes testing March 29, at Northrop Grumman’s facility in Elkton, Maryland. An important part of the NASA-ESA Mars Sample ...
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This artist's concept shows Mars Sample Return Earth Entry System. The vehicle would bring curated Martian samples collected by NASA’s Persev...
Artist's Concept of the Earth Entry System for Mars Sample ReturnArtist's Concept of the Earth Entry System for Mars Sample Return
July 13, 2023
This artist's concept shows Mars Sample Return Earth Entry System. The vehicle would bring curated Martian samples collected by NASA’s Perseverance Rover on the final leg of their journey from Mars to Earth.
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This illustration shows the proposed Capture, Containment, and Return System, a NASA payload on the European Space Agency’s Earth Return Orbi...
Illustration of the Capture, Containment, and Return System for Mar...Illustration of the Capture, Containment, and Return System for Mar...
April 20, 2023
This illustration shows the proposed Capture, Containment, and Return System, a NASA payload on the European Space Agency’s Earth Return Orbiter.
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This artist’s concept shows the proposed Capture, Containment, and Return System, a NASA payload on the European Space Agency’s Earth R...
Artist's Concept of the Capture, Containment, and Return SystemArtist's Concept of the Capture, Containment, and Return System
April 06, 2023
This artist’s concept shows the proposed Capture, Containment, and Return System, a NASA payload on the European Space Agency’s Earth Return Orbiter. The payload is tasked with capturing the Orbiting Sample container, orienting it, ste...
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The Earth Return Orbiter (ERO) is one of the flight missions making up the Mars Sample Return campaign to bring martian rock and atmospheric sample...
Artist's Concept of Earth Return Orbiter Releasing Capsule Containi...Artist's Concept of Earth Return Orbiter Releasing Capsule Containi...
April 06, 2023
The Earth Return Orbiter (ERO) is one of the flight missions making up the Mars Sample Return campaign to bring martian rock and atmospheric samples back to Earth. The ESA orbiter would be the first interplanetary spacecraft to capture samples in ...
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The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Earth Return Orbiter (ERO) would be the biggest spacecraft to ever orbit Mars. The spacecraft would also be...
Earth Return Orbiter InfographicEarth Return Orbiter Infographic
April 06, 2023
The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Earth Return Orbiter (ERO) would be the biggest spacecraft to ever orbit Mars. The spacecraft would also be the first interplanetary spacecraft to rendezvous and capture hardware launched from another planet...
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The Earth Return Orbiter (ERO) is one of the flight missions making up the Mars Sample Return campaign to bring martian rock and atmospheric sample...
Artist's Concept of the Earth Return Orbiter Over MarsArtist's Concept of the Earth Return Orbiter Over Mars
April 06, 2023
The Earth Return Orbiter (ERO) is one of the flight missions making up the Mars Sample Return campaign to bring martian rock and atmospheric samples back to Earth.
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This illustration shows the proposed process for safely recovering, containing, and transporting Mars samples gathered by NASA's Perseverance Mars ...
Mars Samples: Proposed Containment and TransportMars Samples: Proposed Containment and Transport
March 30, 2023
This illustration shows the proposed process for safely recovering, containing, and transporting Mars samples gathered by NASA's Perseverance Mars rover after they are returned to Earth as part of the joint NASA/ESA (European Space Agency) Mars Sa...
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This photomontage shows each of the sample tubes deposited by NASA's Perseverance Mars rover at the "Three Forks" sample depot, as viewed b...
WATSON's Photomontage of Mars Sample DepotWATSON's Photomontage of Mars Sample Depot
February 14, 2023
This photomontage shows each of the sample tubes deposited by NASA's Perseverance Mars rover at the "Three Forks" sample depot, as viewed by the WATSON camera on the end of the rover's robotic arm.
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NASA’s Perseverance rover captured this portrait of its recently completed sample depot using its Mastcam-Z camera on Jan. 31, 2023, the 693r...
Perseverance's Portrait of the Sample DepotPerseverance's Portrait of the Sample Depot
February 14, 2023
NASA’s Perseverance rover captured this portrait of its recently completed sample depot using its Mastcam-Z camera on Jan. 31, 2023, the 693rd Martian day, or sol, of the mission. Containing 10 samples, the depot is a crucial milestone in th...
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This map shows where NASA's Perseverance Mars rover dropped each of its 10 samples - one half of every pair taken so far - so that a future mission...
Perseverance's 'Three Forks' Sample Depot MapPerseverance's 'Three Forks' Sample Depot Map
January 30, 2023
This map shows where NASA's Perseverance Mars rover dropped each of its 10 samples - one half of every pair taken so far - so that a future mission could pick them up. After five weeks of work, the sample depot was completed Jan. 24, 2023, the 687...
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The Perseverance rover's WATSON camera took this image of the 10th and last tube to be deployed during the creation of the first sample depot on an...
WATSON Documents Final Tube Dropped at 'Three Forks' Sample DepotWATSON Documents Final Tube Dropped at 'Three Forks' Sample Depot
January 30, 2023
The Perseverance rover's WATSON camera took this image of the 10th and last tube to be deployed during the creation of the first sample depot on another world, on Jan. 28, 2023, the 690th Martian day, or sol, of the mission.
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NASA’s Perseverance rover deposited the first of several sample tubes onto the Martian surface on Dec. 21, 2022, the 653rd Martian day, or so...
WATSON Documents First Sample on the Martian SurfaceWATSON Documents First Sample on the Martian Surface
December 21, 2022
NASA’s Perseverance rover deposited the first of several sample tubes onto the Martian surface on Dec. 21, 2022, the 653rd Martian day, or sol, of the mission. This composite image of the tube, filled with a sample of igneous rock, is made u...
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NASA’s Perseverance rover deposited the first of several samples onto the Martian surface on Dec. 21, 2022, the 653rd Martian day, or sol, of...
Perseverance Deposits Its First Sample on the Martian SurfacePerseverance Deposits Its First Sample on the Martian Surface
December 21, 2022
NASA’s Perseverance rover deposited the first of several samples onto the Martian surface on Dec. 21, 2022, the 653rd Martian day, or sol, of the mission.
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Engineers react with surprise while testing how NASA’s Perseverance rover will deposit its sample tubes on the Martian surface. Less than 5% ...
OPTIMISM Sticks the LandingOPTIMISM Sticks the Landing
December 21, 2022
Engineers react with surprise while testing how NASA’s Perseverance rover will deposit its sample tubes on the Martian surface. Less than 5% of the time, a flat end on the sample tube caused it to land straight up after dropping.
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Engineers use OPTIMISM, a full-size replica of NASA’s Perseverance rover, to test how it will deposit its first sample tube on the Martian su...
Testing a Sample Drop in the Mars YardTesting a Sample Drop in the Mars Yard
December 21, 2022
Engineers use OPTIMISM, a full-size replica of NASA’s Perseverance rover, to test how it will deposit its first sample tube on the Martian surface. The test was conducted in the Mars Yard at JPL.
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This illustration depicts three different of models of NASA’s solar-powered Mars helicopter.
NASA's Mars Helicopters: Present, Future, and ProposedNASA's Mars Helicopters: Present, Future, and Proposed
November 14, 2022
This illustration depicts three different of models of NASA’s solar-powered Mars helicopter.
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This illustration depicts the Mars Earth Entry System for the Mars Sample Return campaign. The system would contain the orbiting sample inside a di...
Mars Earth Entry System Aeroshell at EntryMars Earth Entry System Aeroshell at Entry
October 12, 2022
This illustration depicts the Mars Earth Entry System for the Mars Sample Return campaign. The system would contain the orbiting sample inside a disk-shaped vehicle with a heat shield for safe entry through the Earth’s atmosphere.
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This illustration shows a concept for multiple robots that would team up to ferry to Earth samples of rock and soil collected from the Martian surf...
Mars Sample Return Concept IllustrationMars Sample Return Concept Illustration
July 27, 2022
This illustration shows a concept for multiple robots that would team up to ferry to Earth samples of rock and soil collected from the Martian surface by NASA's Mars Perseverance rover.
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The Mars Sample Return Campaign Science Group gathered for their first meeting, at the Keck Institute for Space Studies at Caltech, and took a grou...
First Meeting of Mars Sample Return Campaign Science GroupFirst Meeting of Mars Sample Return Campaign Science Group
July 19, 2022
The Mars Sample Return Campaign Science Group gathered for their first meeting, at the Keck Institute for Space Studies at Caltech, and took a group photo.
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The Mars Sample Return Campaign Science Group gathered at the Keck Institute for Space Studies at Caltech for an initial meeting on June 28-29, 2022.
Mars Sample Return Campaign Science Group Team PhotoMars Sample Return Campaign Science Group Team Photo
July 19, 2022
The Mars Sample Return Campaign Science Group gathered at the Keck Institute for Space Studies at Caltech for an initial meeting on June 28-29, 2022.
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NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover used one of its navigation cameras to take this image of flat terrain to be considered for a Mars Sample Retur...
Perseverance Scouts Landing Sites for Mars Sample Return CampaignPerseverance Scouts Landing Sites for Mars Sample Return Campaign
July 11, 2022
NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover used one of its navigation cameras to take this image of flat terrain to be considered for a Mars Sample Return lander that would serve as part of the campaign to bring samples of Mars rock and sediment to Eart...
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NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover used one of its navigation cameras to take this panorama of a proposed landing site for the Mars Sample Return...
Perseverance's Panorama of Potential Mars Sample Return Landing SitePerseverance's Panorama of Potential Mars Sample Return Landing Site
July 11, 2022
NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover used one of its navigation cameras to take this panorama of a proposed landing site for the Mars Sample Return lander that would serve as part of the campaign to bring samples of Mars rock and sediment to Earth...
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This illustration shows a concept for a proposed NASA Sample Retrieval Lander that would carry a small rocket (about 10 feet, or 3 meters, tall) ca...
Mars Sample Retrieval Lander Concept IllustrationMars Sample Retrieval Lander Concept Illustration
April 21, 2022
This illustration shows a concept for a proposed NASA Sample Retrieval Lander that would carry a small rocket (about 10 feet, or 3 meters, tall) called the Mars Ascent Vehicle to the Martian surface.
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This illustration shows a concept for a proposed NASA Mars lander-and-rocket combination that would play a key role in returning to Earth samples o...
Mars Sample Retrieval Lander-Mars Ascent Vehicle Launch IllustrationMars Sample Retrieval Lander-Mars Ascent Vehicle Launch Illustration
April 21, 2022
This illustration shows a concept for a proposed NASA Mars lander-and-rocket combination that would play a key role in returning to Earth samples of Mars material collected by the Perseverance rover.
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This illustration shows a concept for multiple robots that would team up to ferry to Earth samples collected from the Mars surface by NASA's Mars P...
Mars Sample Return Concept IllustrationMars Sample Return Concept Illustration
April 21, 2022
This illustration shows a concept for multiple robots that would team up to ferry to Earth samples collected from the Mars surface by NASA's Mars Perseverance rover.
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This illustration shows NASA’s Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV), which will carry tubes containing Martian rock and soil samples into orbit around M...
Mars Samples in Orbit (Illustration)Mars Samples in Orbit (Illustration)
March 08, 2022
This illustration shows NASA’s Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV), which will carry tubes containing Martian rock and soil samples into orbit around Mars, where ESA’s Earth Return Orbiter spacecraft will enclose them in a highly secure containm...
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Angie Jackman, Mars Ascent Vehicle project manager at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, holds an example of one of ...
Project Manager for NASA's Mars Ascent VehicleProject Manager for NASA's Mars Ascent Vehicle
March 08, 2022
Angie Jackman, Mars Ascent Vehicle project manager at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, holds an example of one of the sample tubes the agency’s Perseverance rover will fill with Martian rock and regolith, to ...
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This illustration shows NASA’s Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) in powered flight.
Mars Ascent Vehicle (Illustration)Mars Ascent Vehicle (Illustration)
March 08, 2022
This illustration shows NASA’s Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) in powered flight.
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This annotated map shows the locations where NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover collected its first witness tube and filled its first six samples.
Mapping Perseverance's First Six SamplesMapping Perseverance's First Six Samples
December 28, 2021
This annotated map shows the locations where NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover collected its first witness tube and filled its first six samples.
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Six facsimile sample tubes hang on the sample tube board in this image taken in the offices of NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover.
Perseverance Sample Tubes: Six Mars Samples and CountingPerseverance Sample Tubes: Six Mars Samples and Counting
December 15, 2021
Six facsimile sample tubes hang on the sample tube board in this image taken in the offices of NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover.
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Engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory dropped this prototype to learn how a future Sample Return Lander could safely touch down on Ma...
Testing a Lander TouchdownTesting a Lander Touchdown
December 13, 2021
Engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory dropped this prototype to learn how a future Sample Return Lander could safely touch down on Mars.
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A mock rocket is thrown into the air at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory during tests of a launch system that would fire a rocket off of Mars.
Tossing a Mock RocketTossing a Mock Rocket
December 13, 2021
A mock rocket is thrown into the air at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory during tests of a launch system that would fire a rocket off of Mars.
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The Perseverance rover successfully collected its first Martian core samples that NASA and ESA (the European Space Agency) plan to return to Earth ...
NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover Collects First Core Samples & Early ...NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover Collects First Core Samples & Early ...
September 10, 2021
The Perseverance rover successfully collected its first Martian core samples that NASA and ESA (the European Space Agency) plan to return to Earth for further study.
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These abrasion targets, nicknamed “Guillaumes” (left) and “Bellegarde” (right), are from the first and second rocks drilled...
Side-by-Side Abrasion Patches for Guillaumes and BellegardeSide-by-Side Abrasion Patches for Guillaumes and Bellegarde
September 10, 2021
These abrasion targets, nicknamed “Guillaumes” (left) and “Bellegarde” (right), are from the first and second rocks drilled by NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover. These images were taken by the rover’s Mastcam-Z cam...
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NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover used its WATSON camera took take eight images – combined into this composite image – of a rock abr...
WATSON's View of 'Bellegarde'WATSON's View of 'Bellegarde'
September 10, 2021
NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover used its WATSON camera took take eight images – combined into this composite image – of a rock abraded by a tool on the rover’s robotic arm. The images were taken on Aug. 27, 2021 (the 185th M...
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NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover used its PIXL instrument to analyze the “Bellegarde” abrasion target, revealing salt minerals.
PIXL Image of Salts in ‘Bellegarde'PIXL Image of Salts in ‘Bellegarde'
September 10, 2021
NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover used its PIXL instrument to analyze the “Bellegarde” abrasion target, revealing salt minerals.
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NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover used its abrasion tool to grind down the rock surface at this target, nicknamed “Bellegarde,” on S...
Abrasion Patch 'Bellegarde'Abrasion Patch 'Bellegarde'
September 10, 2021
NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover used its abrasion tool to grind down the rock surface at this target, nicknamed “Bellegarde,” on Sept. 29, 2021, the 188th Martian day, or sol, of the mission.
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NASA's Perseverance rover took this image of the Martian rock nicknamed "Rochette" on Aug. 27, 2021, shortly after it abraded a circular patch know...
Abrasion Patch on 'Rochette'Abrasion Patch on 'Rochette'
September 10, 2021
NASA's Perseverance rover took this image of the Martian rock nicknamed "Rochette" on Aug. 27, 2021, shortly after it abraded a circular patch known as "Bellegarde."
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This image taken by the Mastcam-Z camera aboard NASA's Perseverance rover on Sept. 4, 2021, confirmed that the rover had retained a rock core in th...
Confirmation of 'Montdenier' Sample in Perseverance's DrillConfirmation of 'Montdenier' Sample in Perseverance's Drill
September 10, 2021
This image taken by the Mastcam-Z camera aboard NASA's Perseverance rover on Sept. 4, 2021, confirmed that the rover had retained a rock core in the sample tube held in the drill at the end of its robotic arm.
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On Aug. 27, 2021, NASA's Perseverance rover captured this image of the science-instrument-laden turret at the end of its robotic arm getting close ...
Perseverance Gets to Know 'Rochette'Perseverance Gets to Know 'Rochette'
September 10, 2021
On Aug. 27, 2021, NASA's Perseverance rover captured this image of the science-instrument-laden turret at the end of its robotic arm getting close to the rock nicknamed "Rochette."
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This mosaic image (composed of multiple individual images taken by NASA's Perseverance rover) shows a rock outcrop in the area nicknamed "Citadelle...
'Malamaire' View of 'Citadelle' Area'Malamaire' View of 'Citadelle' Area
September 10, 2021
This mosaic image (composed of multiple individual images taken by NASA's Perseverance rover) shows a rock outcrop in the area nicknamed "Citadelle" on the floor of Mars' Jezero Crater.
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Two holes are visible in the rock, nicknamed “Rochette,” from which NASA’s Perseverance rover obtained its first core samples. Th...
'Rochette' After Perseverance Sampling'Rochette' After Perseverance Sampling
September 10, 2021
Two holes are visible in the rock, nicknamed “Rochette,” from which NASA’s Perseverance rover obtained its first core samples. The rover drilled the hole on the left, called “Montagnac,” on Sept. 7, and the hole on th...
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Perseverance’s first cored sample of Mars rock is sealed inside its titanium container tube in this image taken by rover’s Sampling and...
Sealing in Perseverance's First SampleSealing in Perseverance's First Sample
September 06, 2021
Perseverance’s first cored sample of Mars rock is sealed inside its titanium container tube in this image taken by rover’s Sampling and Caching System Camera (known as CacheCam).
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Perseverance’s first cored-rock sample is visible inside this titanium sample collection tube in this image taken on Sept. 6, 2021.
Perseverance's First Cored Mars Rock in Sample TubePerseverance's First Cored Mars Rock in Sample Tube
September 06, 2021
Perseverance’s first cored-rock sample is visible inside this titanium sample collection tube in this image taken on Sept. 6, 2021.
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Taken Sept. 1 by Mastcam-Z after Perseverance's sample-coring activities, this image shows the rover's drill with no cored rock sample evident in t...
Perseverance's Drill After Cleaning OperationPerseverance's Drill After Cleaning Operation
September 02, 2021
Taken Sept. 1 by Mastcam-Z after Perseverance's sample-coring activities, this image shows the rover's drill with no cored rock sample evident in the sample tube.
