Science & Tech · Space · 48 mins ago
Perseverance sets Mars driving record at 28.10 miles
NASA’s Perseverance rover has driven 28.10 miles (45.22 kilometers) on Mars, setting a record for distance driven by a vehicle on another world.
It passed the previous record of 28.06 miles, set by NASA’s Opportunity rover.
Perseverance reached the milestone on its 2,006th Martian day, after about five and a half years of driving.
Much of its progress comes from AutoNav, a system that maps hazards and picks safe routes between points selected by engineers on Earth.
The rover is exploring Jezero Crater, where ancient rocks may preserve clues about Mars’s past and environments that could have supported microbial life.
NASA has extended the mission through approximately the end of 2028, and Perseverance is traveling toward Idubi to investigate signs of ancient hydrothermal systems.
NASA expects the rover to keep adding to its driving record and is working on navigation improvements to help future rovers cover more ground.
NASA’s Perseverance rover has set a record for the longest distance driven by a vehicle on another world, reaching 28.10 miles (45.22 kilometers) on Mars.
It passed the previous record of 28.06 miles (45.16 kilometers), held by the Opportunity rover.
The milestone was reached on October 11, the 2,006th Martian day of Perseverance’s mission.
NASA says autonomous navigation has guided more than 90% of Perseverance’s total driving distance.
The rover is exploring Jezero Crater’s rim under a mission extension expected to continue through approximately the end of 2028.
- Who
- NASA’s Perseverance rover.
- What
- It set a record for the longest distance driven by a vehicle on another world, reaching 28.10 miles (45.22 kilometers).
- When
- October 11, during the rover’s 2,006th Martian day.
- Where
- Mars, while exploring Jezero Crater.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Perseverance reached 28.10 miles (45.22 kilometers), passing Opportunity’s previous record.
Perseverance’s first mission extension began, continuing its exploration of Jezero Crater’s rim.
The approved mission extension is expected to continue through this time.
- Distance driven
- 28.10 miles (45.22 kilometers)
- Previous record
- Opportunity: 28.06 miles (45.16 kilometers)
- Milestone date
- October 11, during Perseverance’s 2,006th Martian day
- Autonomous navigation
- Guided more than 90% of Perseverance’s total driving distance
- Mission extension
- Expected to continue through approximately the end of 2028
What people are saying
The original mission called for no more than 12.4 miles of driving. We’ve blown well past that, and with all mobility systems fully operational and favorable extended-ground-life test results, we expect Perseverance to keep adding to this record for many years to come.
thinking while driving
Sources
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