Meet the 23rd Martian sample collected by NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover – “Lefroy Bay,” a sample taken from a region of Jezero Crater that is especially rich in carbonate, a mineral linked to habitability. When the rover used its abrasion bit to grind away the surface of the rock, cameras showed interesting and diverse textures. One of the intriguing minerals spotted was “hydrated silica,” which scientists know has the highest potential to persevere signs of ancient life on Earth. Could it also have preserved signs of ancient life on Mars?

As of early December 2023, the Perseverance rover has collected and sealed 23 scientifically selected samples inside pristine tubes as part of the Mars Sample Return campaign. The next stage is to get them to Earth for study.

Considered one of the highest priorities by the scientists in the Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey 2023-2032, Mars Sample Return would be the first mission to return samples from another planet and provides the best opportunity to reveal the early evolution of Mars, including the potential for ancient life. NASA is teaming with ESA (European Space Agency) on this important endeavor.

A key objective for Perseverance's mission on Mars is astrobiology, including the search for signs of ancient microbial life. The rover will characterize the planet's geology and past climate, pave the way for human exploration of the Red Planet, as well as be the first mission to collect and cache Martian rock and regolith (broken rock and dust).

Read about all the carefully selected samples: mars.nasa.gov/mars-rock-samples

Learn more about the Mars Sample Return campaign: mars.nasa.gov/msr

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/JHU-APL/Purdue/USGS