Science Highlights

Prior to landing, scientists were unsure what kind of rocks would be found on the Jezero Crater floor. Although some thought the crater floor was an ancient lava flow, many others assumed that all the rocks in Jezero were sedimentary and likely transported into the crater by wind or water. Scientists were pleasantly surprised when the rover discovered several types of igneous rock during the first year of the mission, including lava flows and rock crystallized from a slow-cooling magma. Igneous rocks are time capsules because they contain crystals that allow scientists to understand when and how these rocks formed. These rocks showed evidence of interaction with water, and could record habitable conditions for microbial life. With the potential return of Perseverance's igneous samples to Earth, scientists could answer questions about the evolution of Mars' interior, the history of volcanic processes on Mars, and the age and timing of the geologic units that filled Jezero Crater.

At a rock named "Wildcat Ridge" located within Jezero's well-preserved sedimentary fan deposit, Perseverance found evidence for an ancient lake environment. Not only were these sediments likely deposited in a standing body of water, but they also continued to interact with water long after they were formed. The environments recorded within the rocks at Wildcat Ridge would have been habitable for ancient microbial life, and this type of rock is ideal for preserving possible signs of ancient life. With the samples planned for potential return to Earth, scientists would conduct an in-depth study to search for the presence of organic molecules and look for the chemical and textural signs of ancient life.

Scientists already knew that a lake used to fill Jezero Crater, but they have now concluded that the history of water in the crater is more complex and dynamic than originally thought. Using images from Perseverance, the scientists have determined that sediments entering Jezero's lake were deposited in a delta. They also found evidence for late-stage, high-energy flooding that carried large boulders into the crater. Although the origin of these later floods is unknown, observations such as these continue to help scientists piece together the history of water on Mars.

Perseverance's Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment (MOXIE) produced oxygen made from carbon dioxide in the Mars atmosphere for the first time. MOXIE ran 16 times, producing about a total of 4 ounces (122 grams) of oxygen, which would support an astronaut for about four hours. The instrument surpassed NASA's expectations and created up to 12 grams of oxygen an hour. After two years of operation on Mars, the MOXIE instrument completed its final run in September 2023. The success of this oxygen-generating technology advanced the goal of future human exploration on Mars.

For the first time on Mars, scientists listened to the sounds that filled the Martian atmosphere via microphones on board the Perseverance rover. From the 24 hour-long playlist recorded by Perseverance so far, sounds of the rover's gaseous dust removal tool and the wind were recorded. These sounds led scientists to discover that the speed of sound is slower on Mars when compared to Earth, due to the planet's thin carbon dioxide atmosphere. The pressure of the atmosphere also contributes to the volume of sounds on Mars that vary throughout seasons. During low-pressure seasons, the microphone revealed silence. Sounds heard on Earth would be quieter and more muffled on Mars, and high-pitched sounds, like whistles and birds, would be very difficult to hear on Mars. Having this new form of analysis on the Red Planet gives more insight into the atmosphere dynamics and sounds throughout the seasons, in addition to the overall functionality of the rover.