Mastcam-Z Views ‘Leopard Spots’ in Perseverance’s Drill Bit

NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover used its Mastcam-Z instrument to capture this view of the “Cheyava Falls” rock sample within the rover’s drill bit on July 21, 2024, the 1,215th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. Markings akin to leopard spots can be seen in the rock — fascinating traits that may bear on the question of whether the Red Planet was home to microscopic life in the distant past.

The spots seen in the rock are small, irregularly shaped light patches surrounded by a thin rim of dark minerals. These spots indicate chemical conditions during formation or alteration of this rock billions of years ago that could have provided energy for microbial life, if it was ever present at this location on Mars.

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, and in collaboration with the Niels Bohr Institute of the University of Copenhagen on the design, fabrication, and testing of the calibration targets.

A key objective for Perseverance’s mission on Mars is astrobiology, including the search for signs of ancient microbial life. The rover is also characterizing the planet’s geology and past climate, which paves the way for human exploration of the Red Planet. JPL, which is managed for NASA by Caltech in Pasadena, California, built and manages operations of the Perseverance rover.

For more about Perseverance:

https://science.nasa.gov/mission/mars-2020-perseverance/