JAKARTA – Perseverance has spent almost five years exploring Mars. Even though he has observed many areas, this explorer is certain to be ‘healthy’ for the next few years.
In the latest evaluation results revealed by NASA, Perseverance will operate until at least 2031. This endurance prediction was discovered after a team of engineers from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) carried out tests on all sub-systems.
Not only will the entire device be able to last for the next few years, the Perseverance wheel drive components are also guaranteed to be able to cover a distance of around 60 kilometers. That way, Perseverance can observe more things on Mars.
“This test shows that the rover is in very good condition,” said Perseverance deputy project manager Steve Lee, quoted on Tuesday, December 23. “All systems are fully capable of supporting long-range missions.”
Currently, Perseverance is traveling to a new area dubbed ‘Lac de Charmes‘ to collect rock samples. During its journey, the vehicle has crossed the Jezero Crater, which is a former ancient lake and river.
One of the most interesting discoveries on Perseverance’s journey was the ‘Cheyava Falls’ rock sample taken last September. These samples are thought to contain potential traces of microbial life in the past.
More than 90 percent of Perseverance’s trips now rely on highly efficient autonomous driving technology. This technology has been proven to be able to speed up the process of collecting various rock samples in extreme and rocky terrain.
