How NASA’s Mars Rover Became the Farthest-Traveling Vehicle Beyond Earth

NASA's Perseverance Mars rover has shattered all expectations, reaching a historic space exploration milestone. Read on for the details of this groundbreaking mission, as well as what is next for this rover as it continues its journey across Mars.

Self-Driving Rover Beats Previous Mars Exploration Record

NASA is encouraged by the results of its latest rover expedition, highlighting the accomplishment in a recent press statement. The Perseverance Mars traveled 28.1 miles in its 15-year journey, beating the previous 28.06-mile record set by NASA's Opportunity rover. The Opportunity explored the surface of Mars from 2004 to 2018.

A recent announcement from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory detailed the accomplishments of the Perseverance, noting that it broke the record set by Opportunity on the 2,006th Martian day of its mission. This means that Perseverance only took 5.5 years to cover the same distance that took Opportunity nearly 15 years to complete.

Steven Lee, project manager of the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, said that “It is an honor to be working on Perseverance at a moment when the technology has evolved to the point that drives like these are routine." Lee explained that “The original mission called for no more than 12.4 miles of driving. We’ve blown well past that, and with all mobility systems fully operational and favorable extended-ground-life test results, we expect Perseverance to keep adding to this record for many years to come.”

Perseverance has been exploring what NASA refers to as "Idubi," the region on Mars off Jezero Crater’s western rim, also known as “Lac de Charmes.” NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory notes that the terrain of Lac de Charmes is so old that erosion and plate tectonics over time have erased its equivalents on Earth. The NASA scientists hope to discover traces of ancient hydrothermal systems while exploring Idubi.

How Perseverance Works So Efficiently

NASA credits the ability of Perseverance to travel such a distance to its self-driving capability. The high-tech rover uses a navigation system called AutoNav to first photograph the terrain. The system then builds a 3D map that includes the potential hazards so that the rover can plot its path.

The team of scientists notes that the rover has driven more than 90% of its journey using AutoNav while traveling near its top possible speed. Perseverance is expected to continue its adventure along Jezero Crater's western rim before moving to the south. The extended mission includes a trek towards Rainbow Falls in 2028. In other words, Perseverance is just getting started.

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