Perseverance rover found organic molecules on Mars

Why in news?

• NASA’s Perseverance rover has uncovered evidence of organic compounds in a Martian crater.
• The rover's landing site in Jezero Crater shows a high possibility for past habitability. The presence of various minerals, including carbonates, clays, and sulphates, indicates its history as an ancient lake basin.

More about the news:

• Recent findings reveal that Mars possesses a more intricate organic geochemical cycle.
• Multiple reservoirs of potential organic molecules are suggested to exist on the planet, expanding the possibilities for habitability.
• The study also found molecules associated with aqueous processes, indicating that water may have played a significant role in Mars's range of organic matter.
• The extended presence of key building blocks necessary for life implies that Mars may have been habitable for longer periods than previously assumed.

About Perseverance Rover Mission:

• The mission is designed to better understand the geology of Mars and seek signs of ancient life.
• Objectives:
  • Assess ancient habitability.
  • Demonstrate technology for future robotic and human exploration.
• Duration: At least one Mars year (about 687 Earth days).

Mission Steps:

• Collect:
  • Perseverance will collect rock and soil samples in cigar-sized tubes. The samples will be collected; the canisters will be sealed, and left on the ground.
• Fetch:
  • A Mars Fetch Rover (provided by the European Space Agency) will land, drive, and collect all samples from the different locations, and return to the lander.
• Transfer:
  • These samples will be transferred to the Mars Ascent Vehicle which will meet with an Orbiter.
• Return:
  • The Orbiter will carry the samples back to Earth.

About Perseverance Rover:

• Perseverance is the most advanced, most expensive and most sophisticated mobile laboratory sent to Mars.
• It is different from previous missions because it is capable of drilling and collecting core samples of the most promising rocks and soils, and setting them aside in a "cache" on the surface of Mars.
• It carries seven instruments, two microphones and 23 cameras in total in order to conduct unprecedented science and test new technology on Mars
• Power Source: A Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG) which converts heat from the natural radioactive decay of plutonium (Plutonium Dioxide) into electricity.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Consider the following pairs:

Space missions                  : Focus area

1. Perseverance Rover            : Geology of Mars

2. Gaganyaan Programme    : Formation and evolution of Jupiter

3. Artemis missions               : Exploration of lunar surface

Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1,2 and 3

Answer