NASA’s Perseverance rover breaks record for off-planet driving on Mars

Why in News?

NASA’s robotic Perseverance rover has set a record for the longest distance driven by any vehicle on the surface of a world other than Earth, covering approximately 45.2 km (28.1 miles) on Mars. It surpassed the previous record of about 45 km set by NASA’s Opportunity rover, which operated on Mars from 2004 to 2018.

About the Perseverance Rover

Perseverance is a car-sized, six-wheeled robotic rover developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). It landed on Mars in February 2021 and is exploring whether the planet ever had conditions suitable for microbial life.

The rover’s primary area of investigation is Jezero Crater, located in the northern hemisphere of Mars. Scientists believe the region once contained a lake and was flooded with water billions of years ago, making it an important location for studying the planet’s ancient environment.

Perseverance achieved the distance milestone while travelling towards an area called Idubi, passing through a region near the western rim of Jezero Crater known as Lac de Charmes.

Scientific Significance

Perseverance studies Martian rocks, soil and geological features to understand the planet’s past environment and assess its potential habitability. It also collects and stores rock and soil samples for possible return to Earth through a future mission.

NASA’s Curiosity rover, another active Mars exploration vehicle, operates in Gale Crater near the Martian equator.

CLICK HERE: UPSC PRELIMS & MAINS CURRENT AFFAIRS BASED WEEKLY TEST (ENG & HINDI)

CLICK HERE FOR GS TIMES PRAHAR UPSC GS MAINS TEST SERIES 

CLICK HERE: DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS QUIZ (FOR ALL EXAMINATIONS)