The Enigma of Mars Uncovered: A Feature in Elements of Science Magazine by Kennedy College of Sciences

NASA’s most advanced robotic rover, Perseverance, is currently on a mission to explore Mars and uncover answers to questions about the planet’s formation and the potential existence of microbial life. Led by Kennedy College of Sciences Dean and Physics Professor Noureddine Melikechi, the rover is equipped with SuperCam, a sophisticated instrument used to conduct laser experiments on the Martian surface.

Perseverance successfully landed inside Jezero Crater, a dried-up impact basin where a river once flowed around 3.5 billion years ago, depositing sediments that may hold clues to the planet’s past. SuperCam utilizes laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) to examine the chemical and mineral composition of Martian rocks and soil by using infrared laser pulses to vaporize materials, which is then analyzed on Earth.

Recent discoveries made by SuperCam include evidence of massive flash floods on Mars and the presence of igneous rocks in Jezero Crater, indicating a volcanic history. Melikechi and a team of researchers from various institutions are working together to analyze the data sent back to Earth by Perseverance. Last year, the team published a paper in Science Advances detailing their findings on the volcanic nature of the crater.

This collaborative effort is shedding light on the geology and potential habitability of Mars, offering insights into the planet’s past and the conditions that may have supported microbial life. The ongoing exploration of Mars by Perseverance and its instruments like SuperCam continues to provide valuable information for scientists studying the red planet.