NASA's Perseverance rover loses its hitchhiking 'pet rock' after more than a year together on Mars

So, NASA’s Perseverance rover had a ‘pet rock’ that it had been carrying around for over a year on Mars, but it looks like the rock has now gone missing. This may not seem like a big deal, but the rock was actually a very important part of a scientific experiment. The rock, which was named ‘Rochette’, was meant to help the rover study the Martian environment and make important discoveries about the planet.

Now, I know what you’re thinking, “why did they bring a rock all the way to Mars?” Well, believe it or not, researchers can learn a lot from studying rocks. They can tell us about the geology of the planet, what it’s made of, and even if there was once water on Mars, which would be a big deal since water is necessary for life.

It’s kind of funny to think about a rover having a ‘pet rock’, but it’s actually a very serious mission. The rover is on a quest to find evidence of ancient microbial life on Mars, and every piece of information gathered is valuable for scientists who are trying to understand the history and potential of life in the universe.

Overall, the loss of Rochette is a minor setback, but it just goes to show that even the most advanced technology can sometimes be unpredictable. I can only imagine how the team at NASA must be feeling right now- searching for a tiny rock on a vast planet millions of miles away. Let’s just hope they find Rochette soon so they can continue their important research!