{"id":255411,"date":"2025-07-23T12:14:31","date_gmt":"2025-07-23T02:14:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/blog\/feeling-the-heat-perseverance-looks-for-evidence-of-contact-metamorphism\/"},"modified":"2025-07-23T12:14:31","modified_gmt":"2025-07-23T02:14:31","slug":"feeling-the-heat-perseverance-looks-for-evidence-of-contact-metamorphism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=255411","title":{"rendered":"Feeling the Heat: Perseverance Looks for Evidence of Contact Metamorphism\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\" hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-secondary-navigation\">\n<div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-wrapper z-top width-100 padding-0\">\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-secondary-navigation width-full border-bottom-1px text-center hds-color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-hdsnav\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"hds-secondary-nav-mobile-button display-flex 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Orbiter<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\"  href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/odyssey\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Mars Odyssey<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\"  href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/planetary-science\/programs\/mars-exploration\/#missions\" rel=\"noopener\">More Mars Missions<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mars\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Mars Home<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"padding-top-5 padding-bottom-3 width-full maxw-full hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-article-intro\">\n<div class=\"width-full maxw-full article-header\">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2 width-full maxw-full\">\n<p class=\"label carbon-60 margin-0 margin-bottom-3 padding-0\">2 min read<\/p>\n<h1 class=\"display-48 margin-bottom-2\">Feeling the Heat: Perseverance Looks for Evidence of Contact Metamorphism\u00a0<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/mars2020\/2025\/perseverance-rover-updates\/july-2025\/Mars_Perseverance_ZL0_1560_0805424579_894EBY_N0771030ZCAM09624_1100LMJ.jpg?w=1648&#038;h=1200&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" rel=\"noopener\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1648\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/mars2020\/2025\/perseverance-rover-updates\/july-2025\/Mars_Perseverance_ZL0_1560_0805424579_894EBY_N0771030ZCAM09624_1100LMJ.jpg?w=1648&#038;h=1200&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"A color photo from the surface of Mars shows very rocky terrain in the foreground sloping downward from left to right. The ground ranges in shades from orange-tan to brown, while the rocks are mostly gray. A trio of hills rises up in the distance.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"eager\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/mars2020\/2025\/perseverance-rover-updates\/july-2025\/Mars_Perseverance_ZL0_1560_0805424579_894EBY_N0771030ZCAM09624_1100LMJ.jpg?w=1648&#038;h=1200&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1648w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/mars2020\/2025\/perseverance-rover-updates\/july-2025\/Mars_Perseverance_ZL0_1560_0805424579_894EBY_N0771030ZCAM09624_1100LMJ.jpg?w=300&#038;h=218&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/mars2020\/2025\/perseverance-rover-updates\/july-2025\/Mars_Perseverance_ZL0_1560_0805424579_894EBY_N0771030ZCAM09624_1100LMJ.jpg?w=768&#038;h=559&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/mars2020\/2025\/perseverance-rover-updates\/july-2025\/Mars_Perseverance_ZL0_1560_0805424579_894EBY_N0771030ZCAM09624_1100LMJ.jpg?w=1024&#038;h=746&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/mars2020\/2025\/perseverance-rover-updates\/july-2025\/Mars_Perseverance_ZL0_1560_0805424579_894EBY_N0771030ZCAM09624_1100LMJ.jpg?w=1536&#038;h=1118&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/mars2020\/2025\/perseverance-rover-updates\/july-2025\/Mars_Perseverance_ZL0_1560_0805424579_894EBY_N0771030ZCAM09624_1100LMJ.jpg?w=400&#038;h=291&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/mars2020\/2025\/perseverance-rover-updates\/july-2025\/Mars_Perseverance_ZL0_1560_0805424579_894EBY_N0771030ZCAM09624_1100LMJ.jpg?w=600&#038;h=437&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/mars2020\/2025\/perseverance-rover-updates\/july-2025\/Mars_Perseverance_ZL0_1560_0805424579_894EBY_N0771030ZCAM09624_1100LMJ.jpg?w=900&#038;h=655&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/mars2020\/2025\/perseverance-rover-updates\/july-2025\/Mars_Perseverance_ZL0_1560_0805424579_894EBY_N0771030ZCAM09624_1100LMJ.jpg?w=1200&#038;h=874&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1648px) 100vw, 1648px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">NASA\u2019s Mars Perseverance rover acquired this image of the boulders along the contact at Westport, using its Mastcam-Z Left Camera, one of a pair of cameras located high on the rover\u2019s mast. The rover acquired the image on July 10, 2025 \u2014 Sol 1560, or Martian day 1,560 of the Mars 2020 mission \u2014 at the local mean solar time of 11:23:38.<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA\/JPL-Caltech\/ASU<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Written by Melissa Rice, Professor of Planetary Science at Western Washington University<\/p>\n<div style=\"height:21px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<p>Following a short break for the July 4th holiday, Perseverance drove westward to a site called \u201cWestport,\u201d where the clay-bearing \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/mars-2020-perseverance\/perseverance-rover\/nasas-perseverance-mars-rover-to-take-bite-out-of-krokodillen\/\"  rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Krokodillen<\/a>\u201d unit meets an <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/blog\/searching-for-ancient-rocks-in-the-forlandet-flats\/\" rel=\"noopener\">olivine-bearing rock formation<\/a>. It is possible that the olivine-rich rocks are an intrusive igneous unit, meaning they could have formed when molten magma from deep within Mars got pushed upwards and cooled under the surface. If that\u2019s the case, Westport could preserve a dramatic moment in Mars\u2019 history when hot, molten material intruded into existing rock formations.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Those intrusive processes are common on Earth, and the heat of the intruding magma can fundamentally alter the surrounding geology through a process called \u201ccontact metamorphism.\u201d The heat from the intrusion will \u201cbake\u201d nearby rocks, creating new minerals and potentially new environments for microbial life. Conversely, the intrusive rocks get rapidly \u201cchilled\u201d where they meet preexisting solid rock formations.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>At Westport, Perseverance is looking for evidence that the Krokodillen rocks at the contact were baked, and that the olivine-bearing rocks at the contact were chilled. Images from the Mastcam-Z instrument reveal that the contact is littered with intriguing dark, rubbly rocks alongside lighter-toned, smooth boulders. Both rock types are proving challenging to study.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The dark fragments are too small and rough for Perseverance\u2019s standard abrasion techniques, but the rover cleared off the surface of a rock called \u201cHolyrood Bay\u201d with its gas Dust Removal Tool (gDRT). Perseverance also tried to abrade a nearby boulder named \u201cDrake\u2019s Point,\u201d but the rock shifted to the side, causing the abrasion to stop short. The science questions here are compelling enough, however, that Perseverance will keep trying to look within the rocks at this important boundary.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 nasa_template_article_a hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-credits-and-details\">\n<section class=\"padding-x-0 padding-top-5 padding-bottom-2 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-2 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Share<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"padding-bottom-2\">\n<ul class=\"social-icons social-icons-round\">\n<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-x\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a 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desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n<div class=\"w-100 grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0 text-align-left\">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-4\">\n<h2 style=\"max-width: 100%;\" class=\"width-full w-full maxw-full\">Explore More<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/blog\/curiosity-blog-sols-4607-4608-deep-dip\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" 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href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/blog\/curiosity-blog-sols-4602-4603-on-top-of-the-ridge\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/msl\/2025\/curiosity-rover-updates\/july\/https___mars.nasa.gov_msl-raw-images_proj_msl_redops_ods_surface_sol_04600_opgs_edr_ncam_NLB_805867552EDR_F1172370NCAM00257M_.jpg?w=1024&#038;h=1024&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/msl\/2025\/curiosity-rover-updates\/july\/https___mars.nasa.gov_msl-raw-images_proj_msl_redops_ods_surface_sol_04600_opgs_edr_ncam_NLB_805867552EDR_F1172370NCAM00257M_.jpg?w=1024&#038;h=1024&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/msl\/2025\/curiosity-rover-updates\/july\/https___mars.nasa.gov_msl-raw-images_proj_msl_redops_ods_surface_sol_04600_opgs_edr_ncam_NLB_805867552EDR_F1172370NCAM00257M_.jpg?w=150&#038;h=150&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 150w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/msl\/2025\/curiosity-rover-updates\/july\/https___mars.nasa.gov_msl-raw-images_proj_msl_redops_ods_surface_sol_04600_opgs_edr_ncam_NLB_805867552EDR_F1172370NCAM00257M_.jpg?w=300&#038;h=300&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/msl\/2025\/curiosity-rover-updates\/july\/https___mars.nasa.gov_msl-raw-images_proj_msl_redops_ods_surface_sol_04600_opgs_edr_ncam_NLB_805867552EDR_F1172370NCAM00257M_.jpg?w=768&#038;h=768&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/msl\/2025\/curiosity-rover-updates\/july\/https___mars.nasa.gov_msl-raw-images_proj_msl_redops_ods_surface_sol_04600_opgs_edr_ncam_NLB_805867552EDR_F1172370NCAM00257M_.jpg?w=50&#038;h=50&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 50w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/msl\/2025\/curiosity-rover-updates\/july\/https___mars.nasa.gov_msl-raw-images_proj_msl_redops_ods_surface_sol_04600_opgs_edr_ncam_NLB_805867552EDR_F1172370NCAM00257M_.jpg?w=100&#038;h=100&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 100w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/msl\/2025\/curiosity-rover-updates\/july\/https___mars.nasa.gov_msl-raw-images_proj_msl_redops_ods_surface_sol_04600_opgs_edr_ncam_NLB_805867552EDR_F1172370NCAM00257M_.jpg?w=200&#038;h=200&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 200w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/msl\/2025\/curiosity-rover-updates\/july\/https___mars.nasa.gov_msl-raw-images_proj_msl_redops_ods_surface_sol_04600_opgs_edr_ncam_NLB_805867552EDR_F1172370NCAM00257M_.jpg?w=400&#038;h=400&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/msl\/2025\/curiosity-rover-updates\/july\/https___mars.nasa.gov_msl-raw-images_proj_msl_redops_ods_surface_sol_04600_opgs_edr_ncam_NLB_805867552EDR_F1172370NCAM00257M_.jpg?w=600&#038;h=600&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/msl\/2025\/curiosity-rover-updates\/july\/https___mars.nasa.gov_msl-raw-images_proj_msl_redops_ods_surface_sol_04600_opgs_edr_ncam_NLB_805867552EDR_F1172370NCAM00257M_.jpg?w=900&#038;h=900&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">2 min read<\/div>\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\">\n<h3 class=\"related-article-title\">Curiosity Blog, Sols 4602-4603: On Top of the Ridge<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t4 days ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-topic-cards nasa-gb-align-full maxw-full width-full padding-y-6 padding-x-3 color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-topic-cards\">\n<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block-lg padding-x-0\">\n<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center margin-bottom-3\">\n<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<div class=\"label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-2\">Keep Exploring<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"heading-36 line-height-sm\">Discover More Topics From NASA<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2 hds-topic-cards-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mars\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Mars<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<p class=\"margin-bottom-0 margin-top-2 color-carbon-20-important\">Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun, and the seventh largest. It\u2019s the only planet we know of inhabited\u2026<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" src=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/272_MarsInSight_poster-jpg.webp?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/272_MarsInSight_poster-jpg.webp 1920w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/272_MarsInSight_poster-jpg.webp?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/272_MarsInSight_poster-jpg.webp?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/272_MarsInSight_poster-jpg.webp?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/272_MarsInSight_poster-jpg.webp?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/272_MarsInSight_poster-jpg.webp?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/272_MarsInSight_poster-jpg.webp?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/272_MarsInSight_poster-jpg.webp?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/272_MarsInSight_poster-jpg.webp?resize=1200,675 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mars\/resources\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>All Mars Resources<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<p class=\"margin-bottom-0 margin-top-2 color-carbon-20-important\">Explore this collection of Mars images, videos, resources, PDFs, and toolkits. Discover valuable content designed to inform, educate, and inspire,\u2026<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"792\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/mars\/resources\/detail_files\/2\/5\/25757_1-PIA24543-Curiositys-Selfie-at-Mont-Mercou-main-web.jpg?w=1200&#038;h=792&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/planetary-science\/programs\/mars-exploration\/rover-basics\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Rover Basics<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<p class=\"margin-bottom-0 margin-top-2 color-carbon-20-important\">Each robotic explorer sent to the Red Planet has its own unique capabilities driven by science. Many attributes of a\u2026<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1197\" height=\"1499\" src=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/mars-perseverance-si1-0045-0670932474-015ecm-n0031416srlc07021-000085j-e1720460405906.png?w=1197\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/mars-perseverance-si1-0045-0670932474-015ecm-n0031416srlc07021-000085j-e1720460405906.png 1197w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/mars-perseverance-si1-0045-0670932474-015ecm-n0031416srlc07021-000085j-e1720460405906.png?resize=240,300 240w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/mars-perseverance-si1-0045-0670932474-015ecm-n0031416srlc07021-000085j-e1720460405906.png?resize=768,962 768w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/mars-perseverance-si1-0045-0670932474-015ecm-n0031416srlc07021-000085j-e1720460405906.png?resize=818,1024 818w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/mars-perseverance-si1-0045-0670932474-015ecm-n0031416srlc07021-000085j-e1720460405906.png?resize=319,400 319w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/mars-perseverance-si1-0045-0670932474-015ecm-n0031416srlc07021-000085j-e1720460405906.png?resize=479,600 479w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/mars-perseverance-si1-0045-0670932474-015ecm-n0031416srlc07021-000085j-e1720460405906.png?resize=719,900 719w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/mars-perseverance-si1-0045-0670932474-015ecm-n0031416srlc07021-000085j-e1720460405906.png?resize=958,1200 958w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1197px) 100vw, 1197px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/planetary-science\/programs\/mars-exploration\/science-goals\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Mars Exploration: Science Goals<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<p class=\"margin-bottom-0 margin-top-2 color-carbon-20-important\">The key to understanding the past, present or future potential for life on Mars can be found in NASA\u2019s four\u2026<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/solar\/2023\/07\/Color-enhanced_view_of_Jezero_crater_on_Mars.jpeg?w=1600&#038;h=900&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/solar\/2023\/07\/Color-enhanced_view_of_Jezero_crater_on_Mars.jpeg?w=1600&#038;h=900&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/solar\/2023\/07\/Color-enhanced_view_of_Jezero_crater_on_Mars.jpeg?w=300&#038;h=169&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/solar\/2023\/07\/Color-enhanced_view_of_Jezero_crater_on_Mars.jpeg?w=768&#038;h=432&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/solar\/2023\/07\/Color-enhanced_view_of_Jezero_crater_on_Mars.jpeg?w=1024&#038;h=576&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/solar\/2023\/07\/Color-enhanced_view_of_Jezero_crater_on_Mars.jpeg?w=1536&#038;h=864&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/solar\/2023\/07\/Color-enhanced_view_of_Jezero_crater_on_Mars.jpeg?w=400&#038;h=225&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/solar\/2023\/07\/Color-enhanced_view_of_Jezero_crater_on_Mars.jpeg?w=600&#038;h=338&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/solar\/2023\/07\/Color-enhanced_view_of_Jezero_crater_on_Mars.jpeg?w=900&#038;h=506&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/solar\/2023\/07\/Color-enhanced_view_of_Jezero_crater_on_Mars.jpeg?w=1200&#038;h=675&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Written by Melissa Rice, Professor of Planetary Science at Western Washington University Following a short break for the July 4th holiday, Perseverance drove westward to a site called \u201cWestport,\u201d where the clay-bearing \u201cKrokodillen\u201d unit meets an olivine-bearing rock formation. It is possible that the olivine-rich rocks are an intrusive igneous unit, meaning they could have [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":1,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15599],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-255411","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blogs"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/255411","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=255411"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/255411\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":255711,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/255411\/revisions\/255711"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=255411"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=255411"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=255411"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}