NASA is set to hold a significant media teleconference at 11 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, September 10, to unveil exciting insights regarding the analysis of a rock sample collected by the agency’s Perseverance Mars rover last year. This discussion will revolve around a forthcoming scientific paper focused on the sample, known as “Sapphire Canyon,” which was gathered in July 2024 from a series of rocky outcrops located on the periphery of Neretva Vallis, a river valley that was sculpted by ancient water flow into the renowned Jezero Crater.
The teleconference will be accessible to the public through a live audio and visual stream on NASA’s official website at: https://www.nasa.gov/live. This event promises to shed light on the latest findings from Mars exploration and the vital role of the Perseverance rover in enhancing our understanding of the Red Planet.
This engaging teleconference will feature a panel of experts, including:
Sean Duffy, Acting NASA Administrator Nicky Fox, Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters, Washington Lindsay Hays, Senior Scientist for Mars Exploration, Planetary Science Division, NASA Headquarters Katie Stack Morgan, Perseverance Project Scientist, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Southern California Joel Hurowitz, Planetary Scientist, Stony Brook University, New YorkSince its landing in the Jezero Crater in February 2021, the Perseverance rover has made remarkable strides in its mission, successfully collecting 30 samples of Martian rock and soil. Currently, the rover has six empty sample tubes available for future collections and continues to gather detailed geological data using its advanced abrasion tool. This capability enables Perseverance to examine various geological targets, contributing invaluable information to scientists.
Among its sophisticated scientific instruments, the Perseverance rover is equipped with a weather station that offers crucial environmental data essential for planning future human missions to Mars. The rover is also analyzing samples of spacesuit material to assess its durability and performance on the Martian surface, providing insights for the next generation of space exploration.
Managed by Caltech for NASA, JPL is responsible for building and managing the operations of the Perseverance rover as part of NASA’s comprehensive Mars Exploration Program. To explore more about the Perseverance mission and its groundbreaking discoveries, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/perseverance.
