NASA reports "unexpected" finding on Mars

Will Gittins NASA reports "unexpected" finding on MARS

[{"selector":"#anim-bd4edd81-7ec7-4b70-80fe-0aa0c77483c3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-87f24815-f8db-4dcf-8b26-527914f8ef55 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(37.18297203818051%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"fill":"both"}] On 30 June 2020, NASA launched a new Mars mission, with a rover called Perseverence and the Ingenuity helicopter.

[{"selector":"#anim-6cc7e217-c7d4-48f4-b68b-97e853492d15","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-af14c16e-4dfd-43c0-8497-1427fc8cf237 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(34.23295444978073%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"fill":"both"}] The car-sized Perseverence rover landed on the Red Planet on 18 February 2021 and soon began exploring the surface.

[{"selector":"#anim-7690169b-d065-4b5a-bdab-4de28b70953c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-73d81f89-d86d-4b3b-b948-f8d916b04468 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(29.3749998748483%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"fill":"both"}] Last week the team reported that they had located a piece of thermal blanket from the rover's rocket-powered jet pack.

[{"selector":"#anim-f5c6312c-c022-4763-b456-156248ff81eb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-056f369f-6cde-44d5-9cea-84178c000614 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(8.213793946100779%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"fill":"both"}] However the material was found around 2km away from the initial land site, raising questions about how it got there.

[{"selector":"#anim-b1eac40d-dc11-403f-bd02-0416d935ee02","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-497e01a4-49fa-4e99-b9e1-07723fd5cefb [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.47619047619047616)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"forwards"}] On Twitter, NASA wrote: "It’s a surprise finding this here: My descent stage crashed about 2 km away."

[{"selector":"#anim-8f576b16-f234-4ee7-9209-c5b84e1e647a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1670f4b4-49c6-42f4-923a-e58d0cfcd51b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(35.83087035036881%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"fill":"both"}] The thermal blanket forms a protective layer during the tricky landing phase and is made from high-tech materials.

[{"selector":"#anim-8cbacb38-6e19-47e9-8620-b3faeb5f0f08","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f6660eda-97cf-4e59-a1c5-64253ce06bdc [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.8130081300813008)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"fill":"forwards"}] NASA shared images of the team of "dressmakers" who kitted Peseverence out ahead of the inter-planet journey.

[{"selector":"#anim-165c8cef-2c51-4569-9848-ec24c77cf613","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-41ea8078-e9e7-4f26-8148-e2d6cadb93e6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(29.119318055115013%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"fill":"both"}] It's not the first debris found from this trip: the Ingenuity helicopter's landing gear was spotted earlier this year.

[{"selector":"#anim-94672448-38d7-432f-8564-8e5d90447fc1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2b0be6fe-70d1-4a24-8f73-1ab732c32cf4 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(37.18126378030953%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":5000,"fill":"both"}] The helicopter has been surveying the planet's surface and located the parachute on its 26th flight on Mars.

[{"selector":"#anim-5f813758-8b9e-47cf-a088-8c45b85461eb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ed9f5d33-ccd1-47df-abbf-871d9968b491 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(34.23295444978073%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"fill":"both"}] It is hoped that the Perseverence mission will give greater insight into ancient Martian environments.

[{"selector":"#anim-5a94a3d7-10f2-44d8-a490-4bd5352ecbff","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-83e9abbd-fb48-4839-9cf3-7e158f9ed82c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(48.23239406860853%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"fill":"both"}] Scientists are able to remotely study the surface for evidence of former microbial life in our galaxy.

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