With the arrival of NASA’s newest rover, scientists can begin a strategic shift in the exploration of Mars, building on searches for past water, organics and habitable environments into a mission to cache samples that may contain evidence of life and return them to Earth for analysis.

The multimission, international effort will take a decade or longer to fulfill, but the critical first step is complete with the successful Feb. 18 touchdown of the Perseverance Mars rover inside Jezero Crater, site of an ancient and long-lived lake.

Access exclusive subscriber-only coverage as the Perseverance rover collects samples of rocks and soils that may contain preserved remains of ancient life.

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