Perseverance breaks off-world surface driving record

The Mars rover reached 45.22 kilometres, surpassing Opportunity's total. NASA announced the milestone on October 12.

The record was set on October 11, the mission's 2,006th Martian day. Opportunity's previous mark was 45.16 kilometres, accumulated during its Mars operations from 2004 to 2018. Perseverance covered the distance in about five and a half years.

More than 90% of its total driving distance involved the AutoNav autonomous navigation system. Images allow it to build a three-dimensional terrain map, identify obstacles and choose a route between waypoints selected by planners on Earth.

The rover is now examining ancient rocks beyond Jezero Crater's western rim. NASA said its first extended mission began in October and would run through roughly the end of 2028. Perseverance also collects samples for possible analysis on Earth. Previously detected potential signs of ancient microbial activity do not establish that life existed on Mars.