Bubble Rocks On Mars? NASA Rover Discovers Strange Spherical Objects On The Red Planet
NASA's Perseverance rover found a unique rock, which has been named 'St. Pauls Bay', on Mars with dark grey spheres. Located in Jezero Crater, its origin is debated: groundwater, volcanic, or meteorite
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched the Perseverance rover in 2020 and recently, it has uncovered a distinct rock on the Martian surface, surprising scientists. This rock, dubbed ‘St. Pauls Bay’, features hundreds of small dark grey spheres on its exterior, some of which have tiny holes.
The discovery was made on March 11 while the rover was exploring the edge of Jezero Crater, a site that once housed an ancient lake. Perseverance has been investigating this area since 2021 to determine if microorganisms ever existed there. The rock was found on the slopes of the Witch Hazel Hill area, which spans 101 metres and contains several layers.
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Scientific Speculations And Comparisons With Past Discoveries
Scientists speculate that this rock may have been from another location. Similar structures have been observed by NASA’s previous rovers, Curiosity and Opportunity, in Endurance and Gale craters, where rocks also had small spheres. These formations are believed to have resulted from groundwater interaction. Last year, Perseverance discovered rocks with a popcorn-like texture, suggesting the past presence of water.
There is ongoing debate about whether this rock was formed by volcanic activity or a meteorite collision. Rapidly cooling lava can create such spherical formations, and meteorite impacts can cause rocks to evaporate and then cool down into similar structures.
The NASA team stated, “If the rock formed from groundwater, it indicates that water once existed here. However, if it resulted from volcanic activity or a meteorite impact, it would change our understanding of Mars’ development. We are diligently investigating to uncover the answer."
Progress And Challenges In Mars Sample Return Mission
Perseverance is currently studying the edge of Jezero Crater, where groundwater likely interacted with rocks, creating an environment different from the rest of Mars. The rover has collected intriguing samples, some with textures resembling leopard skin and popcorn, which could be signs of ancient microbial life. NASA aims to bring these samples back to Earth through the Mars Sample Return Mission.
However, this project faces hurdles related to cost and timeline. Former NASA administrator Bill Nelson mentioned this year that the decision now rests with the US Congress and the next administration. If approved, the samples could arrive on Earth between 2035 and 2039.
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