Mars rovers serve as scientists’ eyes and ears from millions of miles away – here are the tools Perseverance used to spot a potential sign of ancient life - Robohub

The article discusses a significant update from NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover mission, highlighting the investigation of a distinctive rock outcrop called Bright Angel near Jezero Crater. This outcrop features light-toned rocks with mineral nodules and multicolored, leopard print-like patterns. By integrating data from five scientific instruments aboard Perseverance, scientists concluded that these nodules likely formed through processes that could have involved microorganisms. While this does not constitute direct evidence of past life, it represents a compelling discovery that warrants further study by planetary scientists. The article also explains how scientists interact with rover data, using advanced sensors and instruments as extensions of their own senses to build mental models of the Martian environment. Perseverance’s toolkit includes robotic arms for cleaning and abrading rock surfaces, 19 cameras for detailed imaging—including infrared and magnified views—and spectrometers like SuperCam and SHERLOC that analyze light spectra to detect water-related minerals and organic molecules. Additionally, the RIMFAX radar instrument