Brittle Mars Rock Caused Perseverance Sample Failure
Mars rover Perseverance failed in its first attempt to collect a sample of rock from the Red Planet because the material crumbled to dust, NASA scientists have said.
Last week, the nuke-powered science lab extended its robotic arm to bore 7cm into the seemingly hard surface, gather a core of material, and bottle it in a sample tube. Although its equipment appeared to be working fine, Perseverance came up empty handed.
A closer look confirmed there was nothing wrong with the trundle bot’s software or hardware. Instead, it’s the rock that is to blame. Images from the WATSON camera onboard shows the regolith simply disintegrated, leaving no solid core to collect.
“Depth measurements of the borehole derived from the merge of image products from WATSON along with the image itself lead us to believe that the coring activity in this unusual rock resulted only in powder/small fragments which were not retained due to their size and the lack of any significant chunk of a core,” said Louise Jandura, Chief Engineer for Sampling and Caching at NASA.
“It appears that the rock was not robust enough to produce a core. Some material is visible in the bottom of the hole. The material from the desired core is likely either in the bottom of the hole, in the cuttings pile, or some combination of both. We are unable to distinguish further given the measurement uncertainties.”
It’s the first time NASA has attempted to collect and store samples of Martian rock. More than 90 staff members, who worked on this particular part of the mission and were left disappointed after the failure, can breathe a sigh of relief knowing the glitch had nothing to do with the Perseverance’s design.
The rover will be directed to the South Seitah region in the Jezero crater, where scientists believe the rock will be less brittle. Perseverance will attempt to collect a solid sample again in early September, and hopefully succeed on its next go.
“The hardware performed as commanded but the rock did not cooperate this time. It reminds me yet again of the nature of exploration. A specific result is never guaranteed no matter how much you prepare. Despite this result, science and engineering have progressed,” Jandura said.
Any samples Perseverance successfully stores will be kept inside tubes for a future spacecraft or robots to collect and return back to Earth, where scientists can analyze them for signs of ancient microbial life in labs.
See more here: theregister.com
Header image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
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Jerry Krause
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Hi PSI Readers,
Decades ago I had read reports of DUST STORMS being observed in the atmosphere of Mars. So, question how it was that NASA SCIENTISTS didn’t know that the surface of Mars was covered by very, very tiny dust particles. And, of course, until one begins to dig beneath the surface one cannot know the depth of this dust layer.
Have a good day, Jerry
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Howdy
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They are not looking close enough Jerry. I have a feeling the prestige was more than the discovery, even before the thing was launched. One would expect this marvel machine to be fitted with everything but the kitchen sink.
Perhaps NASA should command the rover to keep digging holes “all over”, to It’s maximum extent. As you point out, you never know.
One thing that bothers me. They plonk this thing on what is easily “somebody else’s planet”, and start messing It up with no regard. Surely, one of the mission parameters should have been to scan, using all possible methods, for an form of life before declaring Mars as a free for all.
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Jerry Krause
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Hi Howdy and PSI Readers,
One does not need to be a biology major to know that without water there can be no life. Hence, the stupidity of those who believe that humans can inhabitant Mars without an abundant source of WATER. But one can read about just this by too many people and this has maybe caused your confusion about possibility of sustainable life on Mars.
Have a good day, Jerry
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Howdy
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Life doesn’t have to be by our standards Jerry.
“question how it was that NASA SCIENTISTS didn’t know that the surface of Mars was covered by very, very tiny dust particles.”
When you stated the above, It got me thinking. What on Earth also has very tiny particles? Flour? Now If you leave a bag of flour open in a damp atmosphere, then let It dry, It forms a crust, the depth depending on the moisture level, extent of exposure, and probably other stuff, I don’t know. Could that explain the “rock that wasn’t”?
If they want water supplies on Mars, they will just steal It from here and ferry It. Sounds about right for the people who are involved.
One other thing. I find It odd that the rover has no appendage that will check for hardness before drilling. Drilling because “It looked like rock” would be comical If It weren’t for the costs and brain power behind It.
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