Perseverance’s Backup Rock Sample Tubes Placed on Mars Surface

Celebrate the completion of the first sample depot – or scientifically curated collection of rock and soil samples – on another world with NASA's Perseverance rover team. The diverse set of scientifically curated samples could help scientists answer the question of whether ancient life ever arose on the Red Planet.

On Jan. 29, 2023, the Perseverance rover placed a 10th sample tube on the surface of Mars, providing the NASA-ESA Mars Sample Return campaign a backup option to recover rock and soil samples for potential return to Earth in the future.

Note: In some clips, team members are wearing orange construction hats as a playful nod to the “sample depot construction” that was being undertaken on Mars.