NASA’s Perseverance rover sets 45.2-km off-Earth driving record
What’s new: The Mars rover’s systems are in strong shape and could keep operating into the 2030s, with tests targeting drives of 100 km or more.
NASA’s Perseverance rover has become the longest-driving vehicle ever operated on another world, covering 45.2 kilometers on Mars since it landed in 2021. The milestone moves it past NASA’s Opportunity rover, which drove 45 kilometers on Mars between 2004 and 2018. Perseverance is exploring Jezero Crater, where scientists think water once filled an ancient lake basin. NASA says the rover reached the mark while heading toward an area called Idubi through terrain near the crater’s western rim known as Lac de Charmes. Project manager Steven Lee said about 90% of its drives are handled by the rover’s AutoNav self-driving system, which uses stereo images and 3D mapping to pick a safe route. NASA said the rover remains in excellent condition and may continue operating well into the 2030s.