Perseverance Rover Updates
These updates are provided by self-selected Mars 2020 mission team members who love to share what Perseverance is doing with the public. Dates of planned rover activities described in these blogs are subject to change due to a variety of factors related to the Martian environment, communication relays and rover status.
![A color image from the Martian surface shows dunes extending from the left side of the frame down toward the bottom right corner, barely visible through a thick haze of pale yellowish-orange that covers the entire scene.](https://science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/mars-perseverance-zl0-1244-0777389210-678eby-n0564106zcam09300-1100lmj.jpg?w=4096&format=jpeg)
Persevering Through the Storm
It's dust-storm season on Mars! Over the past couple of weeks, as we ascended the Jezero Crater rim, our science team has monitored increasing dust in the atmosphere — typically highest around this time of the Martian year.
![The Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover Science Team meets in person and online during the July 2024 team meeting in Pasadena, CA.](https://science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/m2020-scienceteamphoto-july2024.jpg?w=4096&format=jpeg)
Behind the Scenes at the 2024 Mars 2020 Science Team Meeting
The Mars 2020 Science Team meets in Pasadena for 3 days of science synthesis
![This panorama shows the area NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover will climb in coming months to crest Jezero Crater’s rim. It is made up of 59 images taken by the rover’s Mastcam-Z on Aug. 4.](https://science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/pia26373-web.jpg?w=4096&format=jpeg)
Perseverance Kicks off the Crater Rim Campaign!
Perseverance is officially headed into a new phase of scientific investigation on the Jezero Crater rim!
![Rocky, pale-orange-colored terrain on Mars. What looks like fine-gran sand is interspersed with many jagged rocks pointing out of the ground; a few of the rocks are gray, not orange.](https://science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/mars-perseverance-zr0-1175-0771256323-081eby-n0530000zcam09211-0630lmj-1.jpg?w=4096&format=jpeg)
Interesting Rock Textures Galore at Bright Angel
Upon the rover’s arrival at Bright Angel – where Perseverance encountered unusual popcorn-like textures – it was so exciting to see all the interesting features in the rocks of this interval! In particular, these rocks contain an abundance of veins…
![This image was acquired by the Front Right Hazard Avoidance Camera A on June 16, 2024 (Sol 1181) at the local mean solar time of 14:20:10. The image shows the area in front of the rover at Bright Angel with the arm extended as the PIXL instrument investigates the surface.](https://science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/mars-perseverance-frf-1181-0771789927-521ecm-n0540000fhaz00206-01-295j.jpg?w=4096&format=jpeg)
A Bright New Abrasion
Last week, Perseverance arrived at the long-awaited site of Bright Angel, named for being a light-toned rock that stands out in orbital data.
![A jumbled field of light toned rocks with unusual ‘popcorn’-like textures and abundant mineral veins.](https://science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/mars-perseverance-zr0-1175-0771256323-081eby-n0530000zcam09211-0630lmj.jpg?w=4096&format=jpeg)
Perseverance Finds Popcorn on Planet Mars
After months of driving, Perseverance has finally arrived at ‘Bright Angel’, discovering oddly textured rock unlike any the rover has seen before.
![Images of large rocks on Mars.](https://science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/mars-perseverance-zr0-1164-0770274620-848eby-n0524312zcam03910-1100lmj-e1718057373749.jpg?w=4096&format=jpeg)
Bright Rocks and “Bright Angel”
Last week the Perseverance rover descended into Neretva Vallis, an ancient river channel that brought water into Jezero Crater billions of years ago. Rocks found in Neretva Vallis could have come from far upstream, giving us the opportunity to examine…
![On Sol 1151 (May 16, 2024), Perseverance abraded a carbonate-bearing rock called Old Faithful Geyser in the Western Margin Unit. This activity was captures by the rover’s Left Hazard Avoidance Camera (HAZCAM).](https://science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/mars-perseverance-flf-1151-0769123897-271ecm-n0522638fhaz00215-04-075j.png?w=4096&format=png)
Carving Into Carbonates at Old Faithful Geyser
This past week on Mars, Perseverance made a pit stop near Overlook Mountain to abrade a rock called Old Faithful Geyser. This target is situated within the Western side of the Margin Unit, an area around the upper edge of…
![Perseverance’s afternoon view looking towards the northwest. The rocky terrain in the foreground is part of the margin unit that is currently being investigated by the team. Beyond lies Nereteva Vallis, an ancient river channel that the team hopes to explore in the coming weeks.](https://science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/mars-perseverance-nlf-1149-0768942362-112ecm-n0522540ncam14148-04-195j.jpg?w=4096&format=jpeg)
Sols 1151-1152: Rocky Roads in the Margin Unit
Earth planning date: Wednesday, May 15, 2024 Recently, our intrepid rover has been channeling its namesake while navigating through difficult terrain as we march on through the margin unit. Despite the shorter drives, the team continues to make good progress…
![The partially illuminated core is visible in this image of Perseverance’s coring bit. The diameter of the core is 1.3 cm.](https://science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/mars-perseverance-zr0-1088-0763538314-035eby-n0510000zcam05068-1100lmj.png?w=4096&format=png)
Comet Geyser: Perseverance’s 21st Rock Core
After investigating the high-standing bedrock at the Bunsen Peak workspace deep within the Margin Unit, the unique nature and composition of this rock was deemed worthy for collection of Perseverance’s 21th rock core sample, Comet Geyser! Bunsen Peak is named…
Mars Images
View raw images sent back by Perseverance from its explorations on Mars.
View Image Gallery![NASA's Mars Perseverance rover acquired this image using its Left Mastcam-Z camera. Mastcam-Z is a pair of cameras located high on the rover's mast. This image was acquired on March 31, 2022 (Sol 395) at the local mean solar time of 15:34:23.](https://science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/mars-perseverance-zl0-0395-0702017704-081ecm-n0171064zcam08418-110085j-e1721071792939.png?w=4096&format=png)