Perseverance's Arm Over Paver Rocks

A CLOSER LOOK

The robotic arm on NASA's Perseverance rover reached out to examine rocks in an area on Mars nicknamed the "Cratered Floor Fractured Rough" area in this image captured on July 10, 2021 (the 138th sol, or Martian day, of its mission). The image was taken by one of the rover's hazard cameras. An additional set of images from July 10-12 have been compiled into a GIF. Scientists are particularly interested in the flat rocks that appear light in color (nicknamed "paver rocks"). This image was processed to enhance contrast. A key objective for Perseverance's mission on Mars is astrobiology, including the search for signs of ancient microbial life. The rover will characterize the planet's geology and past climate, pave the way for human exploration of the Red Planet, and be the first mission to c

Explore NASA's original image record for credits and available downloads.