Sixty years after Mariner 4 transmitted the first close-up images of Mars, the exploration of the Red Planet continues to advance. The Perseverance rover, currently exploring the Jezero Crater, recently collected its 26th sample, named "Silver Mountain." This sample contains serpentine minerals, potentially formed billions of years ago through water-rock interactions.
These environments may have once supported microbial life. In June 2025, Perseverance captured a selfie that incidentally included a Martian dust devil in the background. This image, composed of 59 individual shots, marked the rover's 1,500th Martian day (Sol), highlighting its ongoing exploration.
NASA plans to return the collected Mars samples to Earth in the 2030s. Originally slated for return by 2040, partnerships with private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin aim to reduce costs and accelerate the timeline. The final mission plan is expected to be decided in 2026.