NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover arrived at the red planet in February 2021. Since then, the rover has been driving around the floor and river delta of Jezero Crater, searching for signs of ancient microbial life and collecting surface samples for the upcoming Mars Sample Return mission.
With its initial investigation of Jezero’s floor and delta complete, Perseverance is now beginning a several-month-long climb up the western rim of the crater. Along the route, the rover will likely face some of the most challenging and steepest terrain it has seen to date. The climb began on Aug. 19 and will mark the beginning of the fifth science campaign — named the “Crater Rim Campaign” — of Perseverance’s mission.