An image captured by the space probe Perseverance of a small and curious object on Mars has reverberated in social networks. At the same time he looks like the end of a lightsaber, it also resembles a metallic thread spool.
But NASA itself, the US space agency, clarified with good humor what the object really is. “And no, it’s not a light saber handle,” the profile of the rover Perseverance stated.
What’s this thing, and why is it sticking out of a Mars rock? (And no, it’s not a lightsaber handle.) Let me explain: pic.twitter.com/bS9yvObLYD
– NASA’s Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) July 23, 2021
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The object stuck in the ground of Mars is a drill and is part of the agency’s mission on the red planet. After the probe digs a small hole in the Martian rock, the drill was installed.
According to NASA, ten were taken there altogether. Most will be used to collect samples from the planet. The others, like the one in the photo, are to be installed in the ground, thus helping researchers to find clues hidden within the rocks.
Perseverance will do something new on Mars: it will place at least 40 samples, from different locations on the cratera Lake (40 km in diameter and 500 m deep, which billions of years ago was a lake), inside tubes, in a complex storage system. These tubes will be left on the planet’s surface, to be removed for future missions. This is likely to be NASA’s biggest challenge in the coming years — the rocks are not likely to get here until after 2030.
Some internet users joked with the reference to the light saber, the weapon of the star wars universe.
“To be honest, as soon as you said it’s not a lightsaber handle, I just thought it was something related to your equipment, but now all I’m seeing is the rover [Perseverance] stabbing Mars with a lightsaber,” said one.
To be honest as soon as you said it’s not a lightsaber hilt I just thought it was something to do with your equipment but now all I’m seeing is the rover stabbing Mars with a lightsaber and imagining it saying “I’ve slain the beast”
— Steven Digby (@lordfishyy) July 23, 2021
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“Stop playing with drills and show us the aliens,” commented another.
Stop fucking about with drill bits and show us the aliens
— Craig Wildman (@CraigWildman66) July 23, 2021
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“Nice try Perseverance. But this is *definitely* a light saber handle. Hasn’t anyone told you Jedi mind tricks don’t work via Twitter?” wrote another.
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