Perseverance Investigates Inactive Megaripples on Mars
Perseverance has turned its attention to inactive megaripples — large, frozen sand waves — to better understand how current winds shape the Martian surface.
Recent Traverse and Sample Collection
The rover resumed a southward traverse after completing studies at the contact between clay- and olivine-bearing rocks at “Westport.” Earlier attempts to climb toward a fresh exposure dubbed “Midtoya” were abandoned when steep grades and loose, rubbly terrain hindered progress. Returning to gentler ground proved useful: Perseverance sampled spherule-rich rocks thought to have rolled downslope from Midtoya, including the helmet-shaped specimen nicknamed “Horneflya,” which has attracted public interest.
Focus on Megaripples at Kerrlaguna
At a location called “Kerrlaguna,” steep slopes transition into a field of megaripples — wind-formed bedforms reaching roughly one meter in height. The science team initiated a focused mini-campaign to document these features in detail.
Insights into Martian Surface Processes
While much of Perseverance’s mission targets ancient rocks and signs of Mars’ ...