For the past 4 months, the Perseverance rover has explored Mars accompanied by small rocks that have caught up and become trapped inside its wheels.
Perseverance has had lonely days for the past year at Mars. The rover sent from Earth to the red planet by NASA explore the empty land, only accompanied by a small helicopter, Ingenuity. However, recent reports suggest Perseverance and Ingenuity are not lonely anymore due to the presence of a new friend.
NASA reports a boulder accidentally slipped into one of the Perseverance wheels. Apparently, the rock has been stuck in the rover’s left front wheel for the past four months, since February 2022.
This rock sighting was captured by the rover’s front camera on February 6, then a second image taken on May 26 also shows the rock in the same wheel position. This means, the rock bounces in all directions in the wheel while it is running. But fortunately, this did not harm Perseverance.
According to NASA, this rock has not damaged the wheels and has traveled with the rover more than 5.3 miles or about 8.5 km. Therefore, this small stone is nicknamed the “Charming pet stone of Perseverance.”
“This rock didn’t damage the wheels, but throughout its journey (no doubt bumpy!), it stuck to and periodically appeared in our left Hazcam image,” wrote Eleni Ravanis, a NASA student collaborator.
Instead of the rock inside the wheel, the rock outside is more dangerous. As experienced by the Curiosity rover wheel at the beginning of its mission which was damaged by being torn apart by sharp rocks. Eventually, holes and tears in the wheel caused the two treads of one wheel to break off completely. To prevent further damage, Curiosity changed its planned cruising direction to avoid other sharp rocks.
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