Perseverance Rover Breaks Mars Driving Record at 28.1 Miles After 2-Month Science Pause
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Oct 13
Perseverance Rover Breaks Mars Driving Record at 28.1 Miles After 2-Month Science Pause
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Oct 13
Summary
28.1 miles — confirmed Monday by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory — put Perseverance past Opportunity as the longest-driving vehicle ever on Mars.
Sunday’s milestone came in Jezero Crater, where Perseverance has been traveling since its February 2021 landing.
A record once expected in August slipped by about two months after the rover stopped to study light-colored rocks that may be among the oldest yet examined on Mars.
NASA said the detour reflected the mission’s priority: science first, with project scientist Katie Stack Morgan saying the rocks, not the odometer, drive the rover’s work.
Perseverance is expected to keep adding miles in coming years as it continues exploring Jezero Crater.