Mars Rock Samples
Marvel over NASA’s Mars rock collection. Each of these rock samples was selected by the Perseverance Mars rover team with plans to return them to scientific labs on Earth for in-depth study.
Samples Collected
25 of 38
Witness Tubes
3 of 5
Of the 43 tubes Perseverance brought to Mars, 38 are for collecting samples, and five are “witness tubes” designed to document the cleanliness of its sampling system throughout the mission. Three witness tubes have been sealed: on Sol 160 (June 22, 2021), Sol 499 (July 16, 2022), and Sol 586 (Oct. 14, 2022). The third witness tube, sealed at the “Amalik” sampling location, was placed in the rover’s backup sample depot.
Roubion
Sample No. 1
Feature Name: Roubion
Sample Type: Atmospheric
Sol Sealed: 164
Date Sealed: Aug. 6, 2021
Rock Type: n/a
Sample Height: n/a
Current Location: Sample Depot
Montdenier
Sample No. 2
Feature Name: Rochette
Sample Type: Rock Core
Sol Sealed: 194
Date Sealed: Sept. 6, 2021
Rock Type: Igneous
Sample Height: 5.98 cm (2.35 in)
Current Location: Sample Depot
Montagnac
Sample No. 3
Feature Name: Rochette
Sample Type: Rock Core
Sol Sealed: 196
Date Sealed: Sept. 8, 2021
Rock Type: Igneous
Sample Height: 6.14 cm (2.42 in)
Current Location: Perseverance Rover
Salette
Sample No. 4
Feature Name: Brac
Sample Type: Rock Core
Sol Sealed: 262
Date Sealed: Nov. 15, 2021
Rock Type: Igneous
Sample Height: 6.28 cm (2.47 in)
Current Location: Perseverance Rover
Coulettes
Sample No. 5
Feature Name: Brac
Sample Type: Rock Core
Sol Sealed: 271
Date Sealed: Nov. 24, 2021
Rock Type: Igneous
Sample Height: 3.3 cm (1.30 in)
Current Location: Sample Depot
Robine
Sample No. 6
Feature Name: Issole
Sample Type: Rock Core
Sol Sealed: 298
Date Sealed: Dec. 22, 2021
Rock Type: Igneous
Sample Height: 6.08 cm (2.39 in)
Current Location: Perseverance Rover
Malay
Sample No. 7
Feature Name: Issole
Sample Type: Rock Core
Sol Sealed: 337
Date Sealed: Jan. 31, 2022
Rock Type: Igneous
Sample Height: 3.07 cm (1.21 in)
Current Location: Sample Depot
Ha’ahóni(aka Hahonih)
Sample No. 8
Feature Name: Sid
Sample Type: Rock Core
Sol Sealed: 371
Date Sealed: March 7, 2022
Rock Type: Igneous
Sample Height: 6.5 cm (2.56 in)
Current Location: Perseverance Rover
Atsá(aka Atsah)
Sample No. 9
Feature Name: Sid
Sample Type: Rock Core
Sol Sealed: 377
Date Sealed: March 13, 2022
Rock Type: Igneous
Sample Height: 6.0 cm (2.36 in)
Current Location: Sample Depot
Swift Run
Sample No. 10
Feature Name: Skinner Ridge
Sample Type: Rock Core
Sol Sealed: 490
Date Sealed: July 7, 2022
Rock Type: Sedimentary
Sample Height: 6.69 cm (2.63 in)
Current Location: Perseverance Rover
Skyland
Sample No. 11
Feature Name: Skinner Ridge
Sample Type: Rock Core
Sol Sealed: 495
Date Sealed: July 12, 2022
Rock Type: Sedimentary
Sample Height: 5.85 cm (2.30 in)
Current Location: Sample Depot
Hazeltop
Sample No. 12
Feature Name: Wildcat Ridge
Sample Type: Rock Core
Sol Sealed: 509
Date Sealed: July 27, 2022
Rock Type: Sedimentary
Sample Height: 5.97 cm (2.35 in)
Current Location: Perseverance Rover
Bearwallow
Sample No. 13
Feature Name: Wildcat Ridge
Sample Type: Rock Core
Sol Sealed: 516
Date Sealed: Aug. 3, 2022
Rock Type: Sedimentary
Sample Height: 6.24 cm (2.46 in)
Current Location: Sample Depot
Shuyak
Sample No. 14
Feature Name: Amalik
Sample Type: Rock Core
Sol Sealed: 575
Date Sealed: Oct. 2, 2022
Rock Type: Sedimentary
Sample Height: 5.55 cm (2.19 in)
Current Location: Perseverance Rover
Mageik
Sample No. 15
Feature Name: Amalik
Sample Type: Rock Core
Sol Sealed: 619
Date Sealed: Nov. 16, 2022
Rock Type: Sedimentary
Sample Height: 7.36 cm (2.90 in)
Current Location: Sample Depot
Kukaklek
Sample No. 16
Feature Name: Hidden Harbor
Sample Type: Rock Core
Sol Sealed: 631
Date Sealed: Nov. 29, 2022
Rock Type: Sedimentary
Sample Height: 4.97 cm (1.96 in)
Current Location: Perseverance Rover
Atmo Mountain
Sample No. 17
Feature Name: Observation Mountain
Sample Type: Regolith
Sol Sealed: 634
Date Sealed: Dec. 2, 2022
Rock Type: Likely mixed sedimentary and igneous grains
Sample Height: 5.3 cm (2.09 in)
Current Location: Perseverance Rover
Crosswind Lake
Sample No. 18
Feature Name: Observation Mountain
Sample Type: Regolith
Sol Sealed: 639
Date Sealed: Dec. 7, 2022
Rock Type: Likely mixed sedimentary and igneous grains
Sample Height: 5.3 cm (2.09 in)
Current Location: Sample Depot
Melyn
Sample No. 19
Feature Name: Berea
Sample Type: Rock Core
Sol Sealed: 749
Date Sealed: March 30, 2023
Rock Type: Sedimentary
Sample Height: 6.04 cm (2.38 in)
Current Location: Perseverance Rover
Otis Peak
Sample No. 20
Feature Name: Emerald Lake
Sample Type: Rock Core
Sol Sealed: 832
Date Sealed: June 23, 2023
Rock Type: Sedimentary
Sample Height: 5.77 cm (2.27 in)
Current Location: Perseverance Rover
Pilot Mountain
Sample No. 21
Feature Name: Dream Lake
Sample Type: Rock Core
Sol Sealed: 913
Date Sealed: Sept. 15, 2023
Rock Type: Sedimentary
Sample Height: 6 cm (2.36 in)
Current Location: Perseverance Rover
Pelican Point
Sample No. 22
Feature Name: Hans Amundsen Memorial Workspace
Sample Type: Rock Core
Sol Sealed: 923
Date Sealed: Sept. 25, 2023
Rock Type: Sedimentary
Sample Height: 6.1 cm (2.40 in)
Current Location: Perseverance Rover
Lefroy Bay
Sample No. 23
Feature Name: Turquoise Bay
Sample Type: Rock Core
Sol Sealed: 949
Date Sealed: Oct. 21, 2023
Rock Type: Sedimentary
Sample Height: 4.7 cm (1.85 in)
Current Location: Perseverance Rover
Comet Geyser
Sample No. 24
Feature Name: Bunsen Peak
Sample Type: Rock Core
Sol Sealed: 1088
Date Sealed: March 12, 2024
Rock Type: Silica-cemented Carbonate
Sample Height: 5.78 cm (2.28 in)
Current Location: Perseverance Rover
Sapphire Canyon
Sample No. 25
Feature Name: Cheyava Falls
Sample Type: Rock Core
Sol Sealed: 1215
Date Sealed: July 21, 2024
Rock Type: Sedimentary
Sample Height: 6.2 cm (2.44 in)
Current Location: Perseverance Rover
This image was acquired on July 22, 2024 (Sol 1216) at the local mean solar time of 12:54:40.
| Sample No. | Date Sealed | Sol Sealed | Sample Name | Feature Name | Sampling Location | Current Location | Science Notes | Sample Type | Sample Height cm inch | Rock Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug. 6, 2021 | 164 | Roubion | Roubion | Polygon Valley | Sample Depot | Atmospheric | n/a n/a | n/a | |
| 2 | Sept. 6, 2021 | 194 | Montdenier | Rochette | Artuby Ridge | Sample Depot | Rock Core | 5.98 2.35 | Igneous | |
| 3 | Sept. 8, 2021 | 196 | Montagnac | Rochette | Artuby Ridge | Perseverance Rover | Rock Core | 6.14 2.42 | Igneous | |
| 4 | Nov. 15, 2021 | 262 | Salette | Brac | South Séítah | Perseverance Rover | Rock Core | 6.28 2.47 | Igneous | |
| 5 | Nov. 24, 2021 | 271 | Coulettes | Brac | South Séítah | Sample Depot | Rock Core | 3.30 1.30 | Igneous | |
| 6 | Dec. 22, 2021 | 298 | Robine | Issole | South Séítah | Perseverance Rover | Rock Core | 6.08 2.39 | Igneous | |
| 7 | Jan. 31, 2022 | 337 | Malay | Issole | South Séítah | Sample Depot | Rock Core | 3.07 1.21 | Igneous | |
| 8 | March 7, 2022 | 371 | Ha’ahóni (aka “Hahonih”) | Sid | Octavia E. Butler Landing / Ch’ał outcrop | Perseverance Rover | Rock Core | 6.50 2.56 | Igneous | |
| 9 | March 13, 2022 | 377 | Atsá (aka “Atsah”) | Sid | Octavia E. Butler Landing / Ch’ał outcrop | Sample Depot | Rock Core | 6.00 2.36 | Igneous | |
| 10 | July 7, 2022 | 490 | Swift Run | Skinner Ridge | Delta Front | Perseverance Rover | Rock Core | 6.69 2.63 | Sedimentary | |
| 11 | July 12, 2022 | 495 | Skyland | Skinner Ridge | Delta Front | Sample Depot | Rock Core | 5.85 2.30 | Sedimentary | |
| 12 | July 27, 2022 | 509 | Hazeltop | Wildcat Ridge | Delta Front | Perseverance Rover | Rock Core | 5.97 2.35 | Sedimentary | |
| 13 | Aug. 3, 2022 | 516 | Bearwallow | Wildcat Ridge | Delta Front | Sample Depot | Rock Core | 6.24 2.46 | Sedimentary | |
| 14 | Oct. 2, 2022 | 575 | Shuyak | Amalik | Delta Front | Perseverance Rover | Rock Core | 5.55 2.19 | Sedimentary | |
| 15 | Nov. 16, 2022 | 619 | Mageik | Amalik | Delta Front | Sample Depot | Rock Core | 7.36 2.90 | Sedimentary | |
| 16 | Nov. 29, 2022 | 631 | Kukaklek | Hidden Harbor | Delta Front | Perseverance Rover | Rock Core | 4.97 1.96 | Sedimentary | |
| 17 | Dec. 2, 2022 | 634 | Atmo Mountain | Observation Mountain | Delta Front | Perseverance Rover | Regolith | 5.30 2.09 | Likely mixed sedimentary and igneous grains | |
| 18 | Dec. 7, 2022 | 639 | Crosswind Lake | Observation Mountain | Delta Front | Sample Depot | Regolith | 5.30 2.09 | Likely mixed sedimentary and igneous grains | |
| 19 | March 30, 2023 | 749 | Melyn | Berea | Upper Fan | Perseverance Rover | Rock Core | 6.04 2.38 | Sedimentary | |
| 20 | June 23, 2023 | 832 | Otis Peak | Emerald Lake | Upper Fan | Perseverance Rover | Rock Core | 5.77 2.27 | Sedimentary | |
| 21 | Sept. 15, 2023 | 913 | Pilot Mountain | Dream Lake | Upper Fan | Perseverance Rover | Rock Core | 6.00 2.36 | Sedimentary | |
| 22 | Sept. 25, 2023 | 923 | Pelican Point | Hans Amundsen Memorial Workspace | Margin Unit | Perseverance Rover | Rock Core | 6.10 2.40 | Sedimentary | |
| 23 | Oct. 21, 2023 | 949 | Lefroy Bay | Turquoise Bay | Margin Unit | Perseverance Rover | Rock Core | 4.70 1.85 | Sedimentary | |
| 24 | March 12, 2024 | 1088 | Comet Geyser | Bunsen Peak | Margin Unit | Perseverance Rover | Rock Core | 5.78 2.28 | Silica-cemented Carbonate | |
| 25 | July 21, 2024 | 1215 | Sapphire Canyon | Cheyava Falls | Neretva Vallis | Perseverance Rover | Rock Core | 6.2 2.44 | Sedimentary |
Witness Tubes
As part of its search for signs of ancient life on Mars, Perseverance is the first rover to bring a sample caching system to the Red Planet that will package promising samples for return to Earth by a future mission. This series of images shows NASA’s Perseverance rover inspecting and sealing a “witness” sample tube on June 21, 2021 (the 120th sol, or Martian day, of the mission), as it prepares to collect its first sample of Martian rock and sediment.
Witness tubes are similar to the sample tubes that will hold Martian rock and sediment, except they have been preloaded with a variety of materials that can capture molecular and particulate contaminants. They are opened on the Martian surface to “witness” the ambient environment near sample collection sites. With samples returned to Earth in the future, the witness tubes would show whether Earth contaminants were present during sample collection. Such information would help scientists tell which materials in the Martian samples may be of Earth origin.
