A couple of weeks ago, NASA’s Perseverance rover approached a geological outcrop called Turkino Peak. This is a ridge of stones 200 m long. To reach this formation, the rover climbed for about three months along the sloping wall of the Jezero crater, where it spent the entire time after landing on the Red Planet. Promising rocks could tell us about ancient Mars, which is the main goal of the Perseverance mission.
Image source: NASA
The rover is currently conducting its fifth scientific campaign on the Red Planet. This campaign is considered the most difficult and responsible. The six-wheeled rover had to climb to the top edge of the crater along a rather difficult and slippery route. In some places it moved at an angle of 20 degrees, which became a serious test for its chassis. In total, the rover rose 305 m above the floor of Jezero Crater, one of the sites where a large meteorite fell on Mars billions of years ago.
The rock outcrops of Turkino Peak may contain information about the geological past of Mars before the meteorite fell or indicate its impact. After completing the scenic photo shoot, the rover will begin a detailed study of the rocks using the Mastcam-Z and SuperCam instruments. It is possible that rock samples will be taken that could be brought to Earth for research in the future.
After completing research in the area of the rocks of Turkino Peak, the rover will continue its journey to a place with the romantic name “Witch Hazel Hill”. Along the way, he will reach the highest point of the route, from where he will take a panoramic photo overlooking the Jezero Crater and its surroundings. New views, new postcards, new discoveries.