444K views · 6.4K reactions | The Perseverance rover began a two-year mission to collect Martian soil samples this year. It's the first of three missions, jointly sponsored by NASA and ESA, aiming to bring Martian soil back to Earth in hopes of finding evidence of past life. The total costs of the missions will likely exceed more than $9 billion. | Business Insider | Facebook

In low Martian gravity, fine regolith offers little grip. As the wheel turns, sand is pushed back and upward while the rover advances only slowly. Mission teams study scenes like this to understand the soil and plan safer routes. Follow @spaceeves #Mars #MarsRover #SpaceExploration #SpaceEves | SpaceEve