NASA provides an update on the Perseverance rover's 'firsts' and milestones so far, as well as what's next for its mission on Mars.
The NASA Perseverance rover has taken its first drive on Mars, traveling about 21 feet and doing a little spin across Jezero Crater. And that first 33-minute test drive on Thursday went"incredibly well," according to Anais Zarifian, Perseverance's mobility test bed engineer.
Perseverance sent back images of its wheel tracks across the red Martian surface Friday. This image was taken during the first drive of the Perseverance rover on Mars, which took place on March 4.This is the first of many checkouts and milestones for the rover after its successful landing on February 18. Once the mission truly begins exploring Mars, it will go on drives averaging about 656 feet or more.