Meet the Mars Samples: Swift Run and Skyland (Samples 10 and 11)
July 26, 2023

Meet two of the Martian samples that have been collected and are awaiting return to Earth as part of the Mars Sample Return campaign. As of late June 2023, NASA's Mars Perseverance rover has collected and sealed 20 scientifically selected samples inside pristine tubes. The next stage is to get them back for study.

Considered one of the highest priorities by the scientists in the Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey 2023-2032, Mars Sample Return would be the first mission to return samples from another planet and provides the best opportunity to reveal the early evolution of Mars, including the potential for ancient life. NASA is teaming with ESA (European Space Agency) on this important endeavor.

Learn more about Samples No. 10 and 11 - "Swift Run" and "Skyland," the first rock samples collected by the Perseverance rover from an ancient river delta environment on Mars. Scientists are particularly excited about studying such sedimentary rock samples up close because they form through interaction with liquid water and may have good potential for preserving signs of ancient life.

A key objective for Perseverance's mission on Mars is astrobiology, including the search for signs of ancient microbial life. The rover characterizes the planet's geology and past climate, paves the way for human exploration of the Red Planet, and is the first mission to collect and cache Martian rock and regolith (broken rock and dust).

Credits

NASA/JPL-Caltech
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SUNANDA SHARMA
ASTROBIOLOGIST - MARS PERSEVERANCE ROVER

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