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The six-wheeled, car-sized astrobiology probe travelled 6.5 metres during a half-hour test spin within Jezero Crater. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6H7JXXEGV7G4VU62QIBN57RACM.jpg?smart=true&auth=093661ee253b77152c88050cdb61317b8dd34de19e4e8dae7c1da8c54c426e89&width=400&height=225)
Wheel marks are left in the soil of Jezero Crater on Mars as Nasa's Perseverance rover drives on the Martian surface for the first time. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XVX33256IEQOD2UY5HKZMKNMK4.jpg?smart=true&auth=9961d8bc2f86fea606cb8a50ea26ffc54c0e92c658eb37435b4de4fc41b8ee8d&width=400&height=225)
A tall outcropping of rock, with layered deposits of sediments in the distance, marking a remnant of an ancient, long-vanished river delta in Jezero Crater. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Z4JW22SU777NVXGYCBUEE5AOYA.jpg?smart=true&auth=bf2cce9bc8539b64d66d4099d8f5afc4c8b5621dd6a5e9bcd4f6b534ec2803f0&width=400&height=225)
Tyre marks left by the rover as it moved for the first time since landing on Mars on February 18. EPA
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Perseverance's main mission on Mars is astrobiology and the search for signs of ancient microbial life. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QT7USRM5PDHM2VS4O2QSBHPYY4.jpg?smart=true&auth=b92e9b752ee745fe1eb14c43084716776f10c79649c8ad1a94c279c0203aa67d&width=400&height=225)
Perseverance is capable of driving 200 metres per day but Nasa engineers have additional equipment checks to run on the rover's many instruments before attempting such a distance. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2VUP62N3WM7RK3FKWMYL3NO4T4.jpg?smart=true&auth=430fd07bb601d8e784536aab6a5d76e2313569728433b445d96eb1a89ce728bb&width=400&height=225)
The six-wheeled, car-sized astrobiology probe travelled 6.5 metres during a half-hour test spin within Jezero Crater. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6H7JXXEGV7G4VU62QIBN57RACM.jpg?smart=true&auth=093661ee253b77152c88050cdb61317b8dd34de19e4e8dae7c1da8c54c426e89&width=400&height=225)
Wheel marks are left in the soil of Jezero Crater on Mars as Nasa's Perseverance rover drives on the Martian surface for the first time. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XVX33256IEQOD2UY5HKZMKNMK4.jpg?smart=true&auth=9961d8bc2f86fea606cb8a50ea26ffc54c0e92c658eb37435b4de4fc41b8ee8d&width=400&height=225)
A tall outcropping of rock, with layered deposits of sediments in the distance, marking a remnant of an ancient, long-vanished river delta in Jezero Crater. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Z4JW22SU777NVXGYCBUEE5AOYA.jpg?smart=true&auth=bf2cce9bc8539b64d66d4099d8f5afc4c8b5621dd6a5e9bcd4f6b534ec2803f0&width=400&height=225)
Tyre marks left by the rover as it moved for the first time since landing on Mars on February 18. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DNF5JVINDDP2XQSIY24LJKROPM.jpg?smart=true&auth=cd2b5366c60964b881120331254a3cf905c8d86f9ec79dd108c3d5fc36f9266b&width=400&height=225)
Perseverance's main mission on Mars is astrobiology and the search for signs of ancient microbial life. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QT7USRM5PDHM2VS4O2QSBHPYY4.jpg?smart=true&auth=b92e9b752ee745fe1eb14c43084716776f10c79649c8ad1a94c279c0203aa67d&width=400&height=225)
Perseverance is capable of driving 200 metres per day but Nasa engineers have additional equipment checks to run on the rover's many instruments before attempting such a distance. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2VUP62N3WM7RK3FKWMYL3NO4T4.jpg?smart=true&auth=430fd07bb601d8e784536aab6a5d76e2313569728433b445d96eb1a89ce728bb&width=400&height=225)
The six-wheeled, car-sized astrobiology probe travelled 6.5 metres during a half-hour test spin within Jezero Crater. EPA
Nasa's Perseverance rover goes for first drive on Mars
Space agency calls event a 'huge milestone' in its search for signs of Martian life
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The National
06 March, 2021
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