Suara.com – NASA make the first try using the new explorer Perseverance on Mars to take rock samples from the Red Planet. However, the attempt failed.
The failure confused NASA. Perseverance began drilling its first sample collection hole on Friday (6/8/2021).
However, the data showed that no Martian rock or dust made it into the sampling tube.
Now, the space agency appears to have figured out what was wrong with the sampling attempt.
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According to NASA, the rock composition of Mars itself may be to blame.
NASA has assessed the data and taken a closer look at the drill site to find out what happened and why the sample tube was empty.
“It appears that the rock was not strong enough to produce a core,” said Louise Jandura, chief engineer for sampling. CNET, Friday (13/8/2021).
Photographs taken by explorers show powdery rock around the borehole. It shows the composition of the rock which is brittle and easily crushed.
“Material from the desired core is likely at the bottom of the hole,” Jandura added.
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Perseverance is equipped with 43 sample tubes and at least 20 of them must be filled.
Currently, the rover is on its way to another sampling location, where Perseverance will try to drill again.
The team hopes to find more hospitable rocks to collect.
Despite the failure, NASA said the Perseverance sampling system was working properly and according to procedures.
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