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Image of a weed-like object on Mars. Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech
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NASA launched Perseverance to study environmental conditions on Mars. This rover is tasked with collecting samples that can give an idea of what the surface area was like in the past, as well as looking for signs of life on the Red Planet. However, there are times when the strange object that Perseverance finds is most likely trash belonging to Earthlings, originating from a spaceship.
CNET Launch, recently, Perseverance found a weed-like object, which may have flown when the spacecraft landed on Mars in February last year. The mi-shaped object was caught on camera attached to the front right of the vehicle. The picture was shared shortly after it was taken last Tuesday.
Previously, in June, Perseverance discovered thermal blanket sitting on the surface of Mars. The object appears to serve as a shield during the probe’s entry, descent and landing on the planet.
Then there is aerial pictures Ingenuity’s small helicopter shot showing the wreckage of the probe found during the 26th Mars exploration of the surface in April.
The debris in the image is fragments of a supersonic parachute and shell, which are part of the jet-powered prop that lowers Perseverance to the surface. Ingenuity was transported with Perseverance, and became the first powered spacecraft to explore the Red Planet.
All of these discoveries serve as a reminder of how human-driven space missions have left trash on the planets we explore. However, it is also thanks to spacecraft like Perseverance that we can gain a lot of new insights about Mars, as well as get a peek at what the planet looks like.
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