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Rover Field Reports from Mars

Status Reports for Perseverance rover at Jezero Crater Mars First 575 sols on Mars

 

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L.S. Crumpler, NMMNHS & Perseverance Science Team

As of sol 575 Perseverance has travled over 12 km and Ingenuity has made 33 flights. Currently Persverance is collecting samples at the base of the Jezero Crater delta. I have been field geologic mapping the traverse out to 30 m from the rover during the entire delta campaign and some of the maps are shown in the following. The delta is a classic Earth-style "Gilbert delta" and the layers of sediment arre being examined carfefully for potential biogenic materials, cored, and stired on the rover for delivery to a caching site. Shortly we will collect a couple of more samples and then drive to the sample caching site where the Mars Sample Return lander will land some time after 2030, collect the samples from the cache, and return them to Earth.


 

 


Archived Reports


Sol 5114 - A Major Dust Storm on Mars

Opportunity was continuing to gather data from outcrops in Perseverance Valley up until the end of May and the first week of June. But then a dust storm developed to the northwest and unexpectedly expanded into Merdiani Planum where Opportunity is exploring.

During the last week of Febraury, 2018, on Sol 4999 since landing on Mars (14 tears ago), Opportunity woke up at took a picture of the sunrise over the southeast rim of Endeavour crater. Opportunity then proceeded with its science activities here on the inner wall of Endeavour crater.

Sol 4978 - January 25, 2018 Opportunity at Outcrop SIte "Robledo"

 

 

Opportunity is continuing its drive down Persevereance Valley, a channel that was cut in the inner wall of the 22 km-diameter Endeavour impact crater in ancient Mars (Noachian) time. This is the second stop of a series of stops as Opportunity drives down the valley. The goal is to collect field data that will help assess the origin of the valley. While the valley looks like a water-cut valley, we cannot be sure whether other processes like wind or drive flow have cut the valley. But that is why we are taking our time and collecting data as we drive.

With the latest drive on sol 4782, Opportunity  began the long drive down the floor of Perseverance Valley here on Endeavour crater. THis is rather historic in that it represents the first time that a rover has driven down an apparent wtaer-cut valley on Mars. Over the next few months OPportunity will explore the floor and sides of the valley for evidence of the scale and timing of the fluvial activity, if that is what is represents.

Opportunity is doing a geologic walkabout at the entrance to Perseverance Valley. There is an odd trough-like feature leading into the entrance of the valley and the natural suspicion is that it could be the water course that supplied the valley. We would like to get a look at the geologyto see if that is what formed the trough. Also, once Opportunity starts descending the valley, it will not be driving back up slope. We fully intend to exit out the bottom of the valley inside Endeavour crater.

Sol 4734 – Sitting at the Head of Perseverance Valley

Opportunity has arrived at the head of Perseverance Valley, a possible water-cut valley here at a low spot along the rim of the 22-km diameter Endeavour impact crater. Investigations in the coming weeks will “endeavor”  to determine whether this valley was eroded by water or some other dry process like debris flows. It certainly looks like a water cut valley. But looks aren’t good enough. We need additional evidence to test that idea.

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