Perseverance finds a possible meteorite named Phippsaksla on Mars

Discovery on Mars by Perseverance

Nasa’s Perseverance spacecraft has possibly found an intriguing metallic rock on Mars, identified as “Fipsaksula,” which scientists suspect could be a meteorite originating from the core of an ancient asteroid.

This rock caught the attention of researchers due to its shiny appearance amid a flat and rocky landscape, prompting a closer examination, as detailed in a recent blog post on the spacecraft’s mission page.

Tests conducted on the rock indicated significant levels of iron and nickel, elements typically found in meteorites that have impacted both Mars and Earth.

While it’s not the first time metallic rocks have been spotted on Mars—rovers like Curiosity, Opportunity, and Spirit have previously identified iron-nickel meteorites—it’s relatively unusual for Perseverance not to have encountered any before now, according to NASA.

Situated just beyond the crater’s edge, Perseverance might have made a noteworthy discovery. If verified, Fipsaksula would add to the list of meteorites examined by other Mars rovers.

To investigate further, NASA directed Perseverance’s SuperCam, a tool that utilizes lasers to analyze the chemical makeup of objects, towards Phippsaxura. Results indicated remarkably high iron and nickel levels, hinting strongly that it originated as a meteorite.

The SuperCam, which is installed on the rover’s mast, works by shooting lasers to vaporize tiny amounts of material, allowing sensors to identify elements from a distance.

Nasa emphasized the significance of this discovery, noting that iron and nickel are usually associated with meteorites formed deep within ancient asteroids, rather than seen in the natural rocks of Mars.

If proven to be a meteorite, Fipsaksula would join other meteorites previously found by missions like Curiosity’s Lebanon and Cacao discoveries, as well as those uncovered by Opportunity and Spirit. Each finding has provided insights into how meteorites interact with Mars’ surface over time.

Because Fipsaksula lies atop bedrock that formed after an ancient impact in Jezero Crater, scientists believe its position may reveal details about its formation and how it came to be there.

At this stage, NASA’s research team is working to confirm whether Pipsaksura’s unique composition indeed stems from outside Mars.

If validated as a meteorite, this discovery would represent a significant achievement for Perseverance. It serves as a reminder that surprises can still be found on a planet that is 140 million miles away.

Perseverance, the most advanced rover NASA has created to date, traveled 293 million miles to reach Mars after launching on July 30, 2020, from the Cape Canaveral Space Station in Florida. It touched down in Jezero Crater on February 18, 2021, where it has spent nearly four years searching for indications of ancient microbial life.

This $2.7 billion spacecraft, developed at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, measures approximately 10 feet long, 9 feet wide, and 7 feet tall, weighing around 278 pounds more than its predecessor, Curiosity.

Powered by a plutonium generator, Perseverance is equipped with seven scientific instruments, a seven-foot robotic arm, and a jackhammer capable of collecting samples for potential return to Earth in the future.