Perseverance rover successfully cores its first rock on Mars

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From CNN:
"(CNN) - The Perseverance rover successfully drilled into a Martian rock on Thursday, creating an intact core sample that could one day be returned to Earth. But NASA wants better images to make sure the sample is safely in the tube before it's sealed up and stowed on the rover.

So far, data sent back by the rover and initial images suggest an intact sample was inside the tube after Perseverance drilled into a rock selected by the mission's science team."

https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/02/world/pe ... index.html

YAY!

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From NASA:
"NASA’s Perseverance Rover Collects Puzzle Pieces of Mars’ History"

"NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover successfully collected its first pair of rock samples, and scientists already are gaining new insights into the region. After collecting its first sample, named “Montdenier,” Sept. 6, the team collected a second, “Montagnac,” from the same rock Sept. 8.

Analysis of the rocks from which the Montdenier and Montagnac samples were taken and from the rover’s previous sampling attempt may help the science team piece together the timeline of the area’s past, which was marked by volcanic activity and periods of persistent water."

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa ... rs-history

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[GCoyote]

On the one hand, I can see a human explorer resolving the sample collection issue in about 90 seconds from last month's first failed attempt.

OTOH I still can't justify the cost of sending a human crew on that basis alone.

[Butterfly Maiden]

There is some exciting news coming from Mars at the moment.

I agree with you Gary, as long as the rovers are getting the job done, it makes sense to save money (and spare risk to human life) by not sending astronauts there.