NASA's rover can't use lasers — a technical problem on Mars

The Perseverance rover could urgently use a mechanic on Mars. Since that is not possible, NASA is looking for other ways to fix it.

PASADENA — Since NASA's newest spacecraft landed on Mars in February 2021, Perseverance has been collecting data on the Red Planet and sending it back to Earth. There have also been some groundbreaking discoveries. For example, the rover has discovered clear evidence of ancient water on Mars or found organic materials on the Red Planet. To do this, Perseverance produced oxygen on Mars using an instrument.

NASA wants to use the Perseverance rover to search for traces of life on Mars

NASA sent the spacecraft to Mars to get a closer look at Jezero Crater, a former lake connected to a river delta where the movie “Perseverance” revealed the history of water on Mars. The rover will investigate the conditions that existed on Mars, and whether there once was life on Mars. To do this, NASA's robot examines rock samples using cameras, spectrometers and lasers, among other things. But now there is a problem with that.

Like NASA Communicates, a team is currently studying a rover instrument called “Sherlock.” It is located at the very front of the “Perseverance” robot arm and consists, among other things, of a laser targeting interesting Martian rocks. Sherlock's camera and spectrometer can analyze rocks – always looking for evidence of past water or organic matter.

NASA's Perseverance rover cannot use lasers on Mars

But this does not appear to be possible at the moment, as NASA describes on its website. Currently, one of the two caps that prevent dust from accumulating on the Sherlock lens is partially open. “In this situation, coverage affects scientific data collection,” NASA says. The problem has been present since the beginning of January. “With the cover in its current position, the device cannot use the laser and cannot collect spectral data,” the US space agency wrote.