The image captured by the front camera of the Perseverance rover shows a Martian rock lodged in its wheel track since late February, and it has yet to fall out.
NASA’s Perseverance rover took a photo in front of the vehicle on February 25. (Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech)
The Hazard Avoidance Camera on the left front side of Perseverance, the NASA rover currently operating on Mars, captured an image of a rock stuck in its wheel on February 25.
During its movements, Perseverance periodically stops to allow the Hazard Avoidance Cameras to survey the surroundings. These cameras assess risks in front and behind the rover, such as large rocks, deep ruts, or sand dunes. They create 3D images of the surrounding environment, enabling the rover to make decisions autonomously without needing to consult the mission team on Earth every time it moves.
The rock has been lodged in Perseverance’s wheel for quite some time, as an image taken on March 10 shows it is still there. It is difficult to determine its exact position from the photos alone, but it appears that the rock is not firmly stuck. It also seems not to be causing any damage or hindrance to Perseverance’s operations.
The image taken on March 10 shows the rock still lodged in Perseverance’s wheel. (Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech)
This is not the first time a Mars rover has been stuck with rocks in its wheels. NASA’s Curiosity rover has encountered similar situations. NASA believes that rovers can get rocks lodged in their wheels when traversing slopes, moving over loose rocky terrain, or when the rover’s weight causes rocks to break apart.
Experts have previously stated that rocks in the wheels are not a major issue. They are relatively soft and tend to fall out on their own. The only risk is that they could obstruct the cables connected to the motors on each wheel. However, it seems NASA is not concerned about this, as they would have modified the design if it were an issue.
At least one Mars rover has had to end its mission due to wheel issues, but not because of being stuck with rocks. In 2009, NASA’s Spirit rover became stuck in soft soil. After a prolonged effort to maneuver and rescue it, NASA announced that the rover was stuck and concluded its mission in May 2011.
The mission of Perseverance is expected to last at least one Martian year, equivalent to 687 Earth days. It has already spent more than half of this time. However, Mars exploration missions tend to extend beyond the original plans. The Spirit and Opportunity rovers had planned mission durations of about 90 Martian days, but Spirit operated for 2,208 days and Opportunity for 5,352 days. Curiosity has also been operational for over 9 years, while its primary mission was only planned for 687 days.
