First Science Results from the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover Crater Rim Campaign

Since February 2021, the Mars 2020 rover ‘Perseverance’ has been exploring Jezero crater on Mars to characterize the geology, assess the potential for rocks to represent ancient habitable environments and/or preserve biosignatures, and collect a suite of scientifically compelling samples for return to Earth (Farley et al., 2020). From 2021 to September 2024, Perseverance explored the interior of Jezero impact crater, and consequently the geological unit post-dating its formation. In September 2024, Perseverance has started the ascent of Jezero crater rim, the first step of a long campaign through Jezero crater rim and the rocks outside of the crater. The expectation of this campaign is to encounter rock types that are not included in the current sample cache typically representing materials from Mars most ancient crust (Pre-Jezero and even pre-Isidis crust).

         The crater rim campaign started by the investigation of the inner part of the crater rim from Jezero margin unit to the summit of the Crater rim. During this ascent, the rover investigated a complex of NW/SE aligned buttes (Curtis ridge, Mist Park and Eagle cliff). The inner part of the crater rim exploration ended by the investigation the back part of Pico Turquino butte. An exceptional diversity of rocks in terms of primary composition and alteration has been observed. Pyroxenites, Gabbros, Olivine bearing rocks and high Si rocks have been docmuented very close to each other suggesting a complex stratigraphy due either to Jezero impact itself or due to older impact events that have shaped the Noachian basement in the region.  In terms of alteration, non-altered rocks have been observed, as well as Mg/Fe clays, Al-clays and hydrated silica. It reveals complex and diverse alteration histories.  

         At time of this abstract writing, no samples have been collected yet. The notional sample cache for this campaign based on orbital data investigation includes: Noachian basement materials (including both stratified Fe-Mg smectites and “blue-fractured” low-calcium-pyroxene-bearing materials); megabreccia (including potentially kaolinite-bearing megabreccia); an in-situ example of the regional olivine-carbonate-bearing unit; hydrothermal features; and impact melt/breccia. Many of these targets are common on a regional to global scale but have never been studied with a rover, or sampled. The Crater Rim campaign promises to expand the already compelling sample suite onboard the Perseverance rover.

This presentation will discuss the up-to-date results from the Crater Rim campaign, the current and future sampling opportunities for the campaign, and the implications for Mars Sample Return.