NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover snapped a view of among its rear wheels with a rock inside it on May … [+] 27.
It can get lonesome on Mars. You’re a rover, circumnavigating the Jezero Crater. Your buddy, the Ingenuity helicopter, has actually reached the end of its objectiveNow, it’s simply you. Other than you’ve made a brand-new good friend. You’ve got a rock riding along in your wheel. The Perseverance Mars rover has a little buddy tucked into among its wheels, NASA shared today. It’s the most recent in a series of family pet rocks the rover has actually gotten throughout its journeys.
NASA shared a picture of a Martian landscape with part of the rover noticeable, consisting of among the explorer’s wheels with a rock resting within. The Perseverance group posts to social networks in such a way that seems like the rover itself is tweeting from Mars. “Hi, little fella. Appears like I’ve gotten another rock pal that my operations group has actually called Dwayne,” the group stated on X on May 29.
Determination photographed the rear-wheel rock with among its hazard-avoidance cams on May 27. “HazCams find dangers to the front and back paths of the rover, such as big rocks, trenches and dune,” stated NASA in an explainer. The video cameras are likewise helpful for keeping tabs on rocky hitchhikers.
The rock’s label appears to be a winking nod to fumbling and acting star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Determination has an older brother or sister rover that’s checking out a various crater on Mars. The Curiosity rover group bantered with the Perseverance group on X. “Dwayne … the rock … I get it,” Interest statedDetermination feigned lack of knowledge, responding“Am I missing out on something? It’s a great name for a rock.”
Determination got here on Mars in 2021 on an objective to look for indications of ancient life and to gather rock and soil samples that might one day be given Earth for research study. The rover has actually had rocks in its wheels before. A few of those relationships have actually lasted a very long time. The rover got a animal rock in its left front wheel in February 2022 and brought it around for miles. The rock lastly parted methods with Perseverance over a year later on.
Determination got an animal wheel rock in 2022. The rock looks like the one the rover got in … [+] 2024 in a various wheel.
NASA isn’t worried about the brand-new family pet rock triggering damage. “My wheels get rocks from time to time. They’re safe and will ultimately fall out as I drive around,” the rover group tweeted. “Until then, it’s great to have a buddy with me.”
Determination’s 6 wheels are made from aluminum and are developed with cleats to provide the rover excellent traction over the rocky, dirty and sandy Martian surface area. It’s an upgraded style based upon the wheels utilized on the older Curiosity rover. Interest has actually been on Mars considering that 2012. Its wheels have actually taken a whipping and have actually established holes and fractures. Far, Perseverance’s wheels are holding up well.
Dwayne might remain in for a long stay, or it might bail from the rover after just a brief trip. Till it hops off, it offers Mars fans something to keep an eye out for when searching Perseverance’s images. We’re all on rock watch now.