The Mars rover Perseverance, operated by NASA, has captured a unique rock on the surface of Mars. This rock stands out from its surroundings, containing significant amounts of iron and nickel, leading scientists to speculate that it may be a meteorite that originated outside of the planet.
Recently, NASA announced that during its exploration in the Jezero Crater, Perseverance came across a distinctive rock measuring approximately 80 centimeters in diameter, named “Phippsaksla.”
This rock displays weathering patterns resembling cavities, making it a focal point for further observation due to its unique appearance contrasting with the surrounding low, flat, and fragmented rocks.
Using its SuperCam instrument, Perseverance examined “Phippsaksla.” The analysis revealed high concentrations of iron and nickel in the rock. This combination of elements is commonly associated with iron-nickel meteorites formed in the cores of large asteroids, suggesting that this rock could be a foreign meteorite originating from another part of the solar system.
Perseverance captured a photo of “Phippsaksla” on September 2, 2025, as shown in the top image. Subsequently, on September 19, it took close-up shots of the rock, presented below.
Equipped with a drill, Perseverance is the first rover designed to collect samples of Martian rocks. The rover’s onboard miniature laboratory enables researchers to conduct detailed studies on these samples to determine their origins.
If NASA deems the meteorite sample from “Phippsaksla” valuable for return to Earth, the samples can be stored for future transport. However, Perseverance alone cannot return the collected rock samples to Earth, requiring another spacecraft for retrieval.
Since landing on Mars in February 2021, Perseverance has achieved numerous milestones. It has explored ancient lake beds, discovered unique rocks, and identified potential signs of past life on the red planet.
In a previous report by Dajiyuan, on August 31, Perseverance captured an oddly shaped rock in the Jezero Crater, resembling a turtle poking its head out of its protective shell.
This “turtle” rock features large “eyes” and symmetrical protrusions on the sides resembling “forelimbs” on the ground. NASA has yet to explain its geological origins, but scientists speculate that it may be related to weathering or water erosion processes.