<p>NASA's Perseverance rover succeeded in its second attempt to scoop up a piece of Martian rock for future analysis by scientists on Earth -- probably.</p>.<p>Its first effort earlier this month failed after the rock was too crumbly to withstand the robot's drill, but data received late on September 1 indicates the process worked this time around.</p>.<p>The US space agency said Thursday it remains a little uncertain because images taken after the rover's arm completed sample acquisition were inconclusive due to poor sunlight conditions.</p>.<p>More images taken under better lighting are expected back by Saturday.</p>.<p>"The team determined a location, and selected and cored a viable and scientifically valuable rock," Jennifer Trosper, project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, said in a statement.</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/science-and-environment/nasas-mars-rover-foiled-in-first-attempt-to-grab-rock-for-return-to-earth-1017142.html" target="_blank">NASA's Mars rover foiled in first attempt to grab rock for return to Earth</a></strong></p>.<p>"We will work through this small hiccup with the lighting conditions in the images and remain encouraged that there is sample in this tube."</p>.<p>The target was a briefcase-sized rock nicknamed "Rochette" from a ridgeline that is half a mile (900 metres) long.</p>.<p>Perseverance, NASA's latest Mars rover, landed on the planet's Jezero crater -- the site on an ancient lake -- in February on a mission to search for signs of ancient microbial life.</p>.<p>Its turret-mounted scientific instruments are able to determine chemical and mineral composition and look for organic matter, as well as better characterise the planet's geological processes.</p>.<p>It uses a drill and a hollow coring bit at the end of its 7-foot-long (2-metre-long) robotic arm to extract samples slightly thicker than a pencil, which it stores under its belly.</p>.<p>NASA plans a mission to bring around 30 samples back to Earth in the 2030s, where scientists will be able to conduct more detailed analysis that might confirm there was microbial life.</p>
<p>NASA's Perseverance rover succeeded in its second attempt to scoop up a piece of Martian rock for future analysis by scientists on Earth -- probably.</p>.<p>Its first effort earlier this month failed after the rock was too crumbly to withstand the robot's drill, but data received late on September 1 indicates the process worked this time around.</p>.<p>The US space agency said Thursday it remains a little uncertain because images taken after the rover's arm completed sample acquisition were inconclusive due to poor sunlight conditions.</p>.<p>More images taken under better lighting are expected back by Saturday.</p>.<p>"The team determined a location, and selected and cored a viable and scientifically valuable rock," Jennifer Trosper, project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, said in a statement.</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/science-and-environment/nasas-mars-rover-foiled-in-first-attempt-to-grab-rock-for-return-to-earth-1017142.html" target="_blank">NASA's Mars rover foiled in first attempt to grab rock for return to Earth</a></strong></p>.<p>"We will work through this small hiccup with the lighting conditions in the images and remain encouraged that there is sample in this tube."</p>.<p>The target was a briefcase-sized rock nicknamed "Rochette" from a ridgeline that is half a mile (900 metres) long.</p>.<p>Perseverance, NASA's latest Mars rover, landed on the planet's Jezero crater -- the site on an ancient lake -- in February on a mission to search for signs of ancient microbial life.</p>.<p>Its turret-mounted scientific instruments are able to determine chemical and mineral composition and look for organic matter, as well as better characterise the planet's geological processes.</p>.<p>It uses a drill and a hollow coring bit at the end of its 7-foot-long (2-metre-long) robotic arm to extract samples slightly thicker than a pencil, which it stores under its belly.</p>.<p>NASA plans a mission to bring around 30 samples back to Earth in the 2030s, where scientists will be able to conduct more detailed analysis that might confirm there was microbial life.</p>