The rover made this abrasion on May 22 and performed proximity science (a detailed analysis of Martian rocks and soil) with its arm-mounted instruments two days later. The science team wanted to learn about Falbreen because it\u2019s situated within what may be some of the oldest terrain Perseverance has ever explored \u2014 perhaps even older than Jezero Crater.<\/p>\n
Tracks from the rover\u2019s journey to the location can be seen toward the mosaic\u2019s right edge. About 300 feet (90 meters) away, they veer to the left, disappearing from sight at a previous geologic stop the science team calls \u201cKenmore<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n A little more than halfway up the mosaic, sweeping from one edge to the other, is the transition from lighter-toned to darker-toned rocks. This is the boundary line, or contact, between two geologic units. The flat, lighter-colored rocks nearer to the rover are rich in the mineral olivine, while the darker rocks farther away are believed to be much older clay-bearing rocks.<\/p>\n More About Perseverance<\/p>\n NASA\u2019s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which is managed for the agency by Caltech, built and manages operations of the Perseverance rover on behalf of NASA\u2019s Science Mission Directorate in Washington, as part of NASA\u2019s Mars Exploration Program portfolio. Arizona State University leads the operations of the Mastcam-Z instrument, working in collaboration with Malin Space Science Systems in San Diego, on the design, fabrication, testing, and operation of the cameras.<\/p>\n For more about Perseverance:<\/p>\n