NASA's Perseverance Mars rover is currently navigating a steep route up the western wall of Jezero Crater, aiming to reach the rim by early December. On September 27, the rover captured a mosaic image depicting its journey and key landmarks from its 3½-year exploration of Mars.
The mosaic, composed of 44 frames, showcases significant locations such as the rover's landing site, where it first identified sedimentary rocks, and the inaugural sample depot on another planet. The image was taken near a site named "Faraway Rock," marking a midpoint in its ascent.
Perseverance's deputy project manager, Rick Welch, noted that the image illustrates both past achievements and the challenges ahead. The right side of the mosaic reveals a 20-degree slope, which, while not unprecedented for Mars rovers, presents unique difficulties due to the slippery surface.
During the ascent, the rover has encountered loose dust and sand, impacting its progress. On some days, it covered only 50% of its intended distance, with one day seeing just 20% completion. Camden Miller, a rover planner at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), explained that this is the first mission to tackle such steep and slippery terrain simultaneously.
In response to the challenges, the team implemented strategies to improve traction, including backward driving and cross-slope maneuvers. Initial tests indicated that driving near the slope's northern edge, where larger rocks are present, enhanced the rover's grip.
Perseverance is expected to reach the crater rim at a location called "Lookout Hill" in the coming weeks. From there, it will proceed to "Witch Hazel Hill," an area of interest due to its light-toned, layered bedrock.
To date, Perseverance has sealed 24 samples of Martian rock and regolith, along with one atmospheric sample and three witness tubes. NASA's goal is to cache at least 31 samples during the mission, with plans to return these to Earth for analysis under the Mars Sample Return Program in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA).
This mission is part of NASA's broader Moon to Mars exploration strategy, which includes Artemis missions aimed at facilitating human exploration of Mars.