NASA rover discovers curious ‘spaghetti’ object on surface of Mars

Posted on : 07/26/2022
NASA rover discovers curious ‘spaghetti’ object on surface of Mars
Science 

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A bizarre object resembling spaghetti has been discovered on the surface of Mars.

The unknown item was snapped by NASA's Perseverance rover on July 12 by the robot's hazard-avoidance camera. Strangely, when the robot returned to the same spot four days later, the item had completely vanished.

Experts believe it was likely blown away by Martian winds which are stirred up by temperature changes on the planet's surface.

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The discovery of the scrunched-up substance has sparked feverish speculation online, with some suggesting that it looks exactly like "silly string".

One person tweeted that the item looked like a "jellyfish" while others said it was akin to "tangled headphones".

"Mars ramen," another user commented, noting its noodle-like structure.

NASA officials said that the unconfirmed item is likely a piece of debris from when the rover landed on the red planet.

"We have been discussing where it came from, but it is believed to be a piece of cord from the parachute or landing system that lowers the robot to the ground," a spokesperson for a NASA laboratory told AFP.

"You have to keep in mind that it is not confirmed that it is one thing or another."

Last month, a piece of thermal blanket thought to be from Perseverance's rocket-powered landing system was spotted after being blown a mile away from the rover's landing site and coming to rest between some rocks.

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NASA's Perseverance was launched on July 30, 2020 and successfully landed on Mars on February 18, 2021.

The rover's mission is to seek out Martian environments capable of supporting life, hunt for evidence of former microbial life, collect rock samples, and test oxygen production in the atmosphere to prepare for future crewed missions.

The atmosphere on Mars is much thinner than Earth's, containing more than 95% carbon dioxide and less than 1% oxygen.

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