Perseverance Rover May Have Found Signs Of Ancient Martian Water

PASADENA, CA — Martian rock samples collected by the Perseverance rover may contain traces of ancient water, NASA announced Friday.

Salt minerals have been found on the samples that may provide a window into the planet’s past, including what the climate might have been like, the space agency said in a statement.

Scientists believe the salt may have been left by water that was once present in the area, either by flowing groundwater that altered the minerals in the rocks or by leaving behind salt during evaporation.

Ken Farley, a project scientist with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, said it’s “a big deal that the water was there a long time.”

“It looks like our first rocks reveal a potentially habitable sustained environment,” he said.

Salt minerals can preserve ancient signs of life on Earth, and the agency believes it’s the same for Mars.

The two rock samples, named “Montdenier” and “Montagnac,” were collected Sept. 6 and Sept. 8, respectively, NASA said. The samples were obtained in the Jezero Crater, where the rover landed in February.

The crater is the site of an ancient Martian lake, NASA said. Part of the rover's mission is to study the area and its climate. Another part of the rover's mission is testing its self-driving capabilities and demonstrating the ability to fly a helicopter on Mars.

The Perseverance will continue to travel across the crater as it searches for ancient signs of Martian life.