The Mars vehicle “Perseverance” took a second sample from Mars rocks. Water may have been present in this area of the planet for an extended period of time.
[New York -] The rover “Perseverance” has taken a second sample from Mars rock – and has already carried out initial investigations on both samples. The rock is made of basalt and could have been formed by lava outpouring, said the US space agency Nasa.
In addition, salt minerals were discovered in it, which could indicate that water may have been present in this area of the planet for a longer period of time – and thus potentially life could also have been possible.
Last weekend, NASA announced that the rover had taken a first sample from Mars rock and stowed it safely. The second drilling took place a few days later. A first attempt at drilling failed in August because the rock was not strong enough and could not be filled into the sample tube. The now successfully removed and stowed sample, which is only slightly thicker than a pencil, is to be sent to earth and examined – exactly how and when is currently still being planned.
“Perseverance” (in German: stamina) landed on Mars at the end of February with a risky maneuver. The development and construction of the approximately 2.5 billion dollar (about 2.2 billion euros) rover had taken eight years. [dpa]
