NASA’s Perseverance rover has embarked on a challenging mission on Mars, starting a climb to the top of Jezero Crater. This mission, which began three and a half years after the rover landed on the red planet, is part of NASA’s ongoing effort to explore the Martian surface. The rover’s ascent will take it up 305 meters from the crater’s bottom, where it has been collecting rock samples since 2021. The primary goal of this mission is to gather new rock samples that may provide crucial insights into Mars’ ancient climate and the possibility of past life. Scientists believe that understanding the planet’s geological history could offer valuable information about how rocky planets like Mars and Earth were formed.

The journey to the crater’s rim will be arduous, as the rover must navigate rocky terrain and steep slopes, some with inclines of up to 23 degrees. This exploration is expected to last several months. The scientific community is particularly interested in the bedrock at the top of the crater, which may hold evidence of ancient hydrothermal activity. On Earth, similar conditions have been linked to the emergence of life, making this mission critical for understanding Mars’ potential to have supported life in the past. NASA is also exploring methods to bring these rock samples back to Earth, where they can be analyzed in detail to provide further insights into the planet’s history and evolution.