It was last year that a historic landing took place. Then the rover “Perseverance” arrived on Mars. Since then, it has been looking for signs of prehistoric life up there. And yesterday the first results were published. – These are very interesting measurements, says Svein-Erik Hamran. The UiO professor has led the work on “Rimfax”. A radar that is an important part of the equipment package on the rover, and can provide unique details 15 meters into the ground. – The results are based on the first kilometers the rover has driven. Exciting findings Hamran is from Fauske in Nordland and first author of a recent study. RESEARCHER: Professor Svein-Erik Hamran says they are very satisfied with the data they have received from the Rimfax measurements, and says that they are keeping to schedule. Photo: UiO It is based on measurements made in a crater called Jezero. The findings are described as surprising. – There is a more complex geology in the crater floor than previously thought. In the crater there was a lake a very long time ago. Therefore, it was expected to find a rock that reflected this. What scientists call horizontal seabed sediments. Instead, they have discovered two other types of rock: One originates from magma (molten rock), deep below the earth’s surface. The other from volcanic activity on the surface. – We see that there has been an impact of water in the crater floor, but much less than we had expected. This surprised us, says Hamran. Several articles published It is important to point out that the findings that have now been published are not just to be read in one article. In fact, we are talking about a total of four articles, says Nasa. Together, they provide a good overview of what has been found so far on Mars. The articles describe the unique methods used. Among other things, the use of a “laser gun” on an instrument called SuperCam to study rocks. From the press release we can read: SuperCam has “zapped” as many as 1,450 points in the course of 10 months. The measurements have helped to reach the conclusion about igneous rocks on the crater floor. The exciting thing is also that igneous rock makes good “clocks”. Therefore; crystals in them can tell a lot about the time of formation. – They will tell us when the lake was present in Jezero, says Ken Farley from Caltech. New questions are raised Farley is another of the researchers on the Perseverance project, and lead author on one of the articles. He says that new questions are now being raised: – When was the climate on Mars favorable for lakes and rivers? When did it change to the cold and dry conditions we see today? How the volcanic rock material ended up in the crater is still a mystery. – It is difficult to find out how the crater floor was formed. Whether it comes from a volcano inside the crater, or from outside, notes Hamran. The rover’s most important mission is to find out if there has been life on Mars in one form or another. For this, igneous rocks are not the best place to look. In that case, sedimentary rocks are actually better suited. They form in water where life is more likely. Therefore, there is also tension associated with a river delta at the Jezero crater. Perseverance took this “selfie” near the rock nicknamed Rochette. Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS Aim to return the samples The rover has traveled nine kilometers since landing. Up from the crater floor and into the above-mentioned river delta. Since April this year, it has been drilling and collecting core samples there. Samples that can hopefully be returned to Earth in the future, for thorough analyzes in the lab. What the rover finds out will help map geology and past climates. And pave the way for human exploration of the Red Planet. – How far away is it to find out if there has been life on Mars? – I think it is difficult to say anything based only on the rover measurements. They can give us an indication, but nothing certain. The samples must be brought back to earth to be able to say anything definitive, says Hamran. Here we see the route where the rover has moved. Photo: Hamran et al, published in SCIENCE ADVANCES
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Researchers found mysterious stone in crater – news Nordland
