NASA reports the Perseverance rover is in excellent condition and will keep exploring Mars for several more years. The rover has driven nearly 25 miles since February 2021, and engineers estimate its rotary actuators can function for at least another 37 miles or until about 2031. Over the next year Perseverance will head to a region called Lac De Charmes to collect and cache rock samples, while recent chemical finds near Jezero Crater bolster the search for signs of past life.
NASA: Perseverance Is Healthy — Mars Mission Extended Through 2031
NASA announced Wednesday that its Perseverance rover remains in excellent condition and will continue exploring Mars for several more years after a systematic evaluation of the vehicle’s systems and subsystems.
Mission Status and Durability
Since landing in Jezero Crater in February 2021, Perseverance has driven nearly 25 miles across the Martian surface. Over the past two years, NASA engineers have run thorough tests on the rover’s components and durability. Based on these assessments, the agency estimates the rover’s rotary actuators—the motors that drive the six wheels—can continue to perform optimally for at least another 37 miles or roughly until 2031 under current mission plans.
“These tests show the rover is in excellent shape,” said Steve Lee, Perseverance’s deputy project manager. “All the systems are fully capable of supporting a very long-term mission to extensively explore this fascinating region of Mars.”
Next Targets: Lac De Charmes and Sample Collection
Perseverance is now driving toward a newly prioritized area scientists have nicknamed Lac De Charmes. During the coming year the rover will focus on identifying, collecting and caching rock samples in this region. Those samples are being prepared for eventual retrieval and return to Earth by a future Mars Sample Return campaign.
Scientific Highlights
Most recently, the rover traversed parts of Jezero Crater, an ancient lake and river delta that is a primary target for the search for past life. In September, Perseverance examined rocks near the crater that contained unusual chemical compounds; researchers say these findings are consistent with environments that could once have supported microbial life.
NASA’s update underscores that the mission remains robust and well positioned to continue geological exploration, collect high-priority samples, and search for signs of past life on Mars for years to come.
