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Perseverance Cleared for Years of Driving as It Targets Ancient Rocks Beyond Jezero

Fresh validation of rover systems underwrites an expanded science push into Lac de Charmes.

Overview

  • JPL tests presented at AGU certify wheel actuators for at least another 37 miles and indicate nearly all subsystems can operate through at least 2031.
  • The rover has logged nearly 25 miles in almost five years, including a 1,350.7‑foot record drive on June 19, 2025.
  • A peer‑reviewed IEEE paper details the ENav autonomous planner, with more than 90% of total driving executed autonomously, according to lead author Hiro Ono.
  • A new Science paper reports Margin Unit findings linking olivine and carbonates that record rock–water–atmosphere interactions, with three samples collected for future study.
  • Perseverance is traversing into the Lac de Charmes region beyond Jezero’s western rim, where the team has spotted a large potential impactite megablock named Hyha and is preparing new sampling targets.