Updated
Updated · Engadget · Jun 21
Perseverance Rover Tops 26.2 Miles on Mars in 5 Years
Updated
Updated · Engadget · Jun 21

Perseverance Rover Tops 26.2 Miles on Mars in 5 Years

3 articles · Updated · Engadget · Jun 21

Summary

  • NASA said Perseverance crossed the 26.2-mile marathon mark on June 14, becoming only the second explorer to cover that distance on another world.
  • Five years after landing, the rover reached the milestone despite a top speed of just 0.1 mph under ideal conditions.
  • Opportunity was the first to do it in 2015, but needed 11 years and two months; Curiosity, on Mars since 2012, has logged just over 23 miles.
  • West of Jezero Crater, Perseverance hit the mark while exploring ancient terrain where it has found evidence of a former lake and possible signs of ancient life.

Insights

Perseverance and Curiosity both found organic molecules. Which discovery provides stronger evidence for potential past life on Mars?
How can NASA confirm signs of ancient life on Mars if the crucial sample return mission is now stalled?