Payam Javan: NASA’s Perseverance rover is embarking on a challenging ascent on Mars, moving from the crater floor to the rim of Jezero Crater, a climb of approximately 1,000 feet (305 meters). After spending the last 3 1/2 years exploring the crater’s base, Perseverance is now focused on collecting rock samples from the rim, where scientists hope to uncover clues about Mars’ ancient climate and potential for past life. The rover has already gathered 22 core samples from the crater’s floor, and these new samples could provide further insights into the planet’s geological history.

The journey to the crater’s rim presents significant obstacles, including rocky terrain and steep slopes of up to 23 degrees. Perseverance, which has traveled around 18 miles (29 kilometers) since its landing in 2021, will face a months-long trek to reach the top. The rocks at the rim could hold important information about the formation of rocky planets and may have originated from hydrothermal vents, analogous to those on Earth, which are known to support life. NASA is also investigating methods to return these valuable samples to Earth for further analysis.