Astrobiology (general)

Mars Perseverance Rover Has Some Astrobiology Ink: A DNA Tattoo

By Keith Cowing
Astrobiology.com/NASA
November 24, 2024
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Mars Perseverance Rover Has Some Astrobiology Ink: A DNA Tattoo
NASA ID: PIA24552 Larger image

Editor’s note: of course, this rover has a prime mission task of conducting Astrobiology research on Mars i.e. according to NASA it: “searches for signs of ancient microbial life, to advance NASA’s quest to explore the past habitability of Mars.” [NASA source]. As such, this symbol is an Astrobiology droid tattoo, if you will. 😉


Original NASA JPL Caption: “This photo shows two small drawings inscribed inside the front left wheel of the Mars Perseverance rover, pictured here before it was installed on the rover. One figure represents the tracks that the rover leaves as it drives on Mars. The other resembles that same pattern, twisted into the shape of DNA. The symbols represent humanity’s fundamental drive to invent the tools necessary for exploration, and serve as a reminder that our space robots are of human origin.”

Update:

Astrobiology

Explorers Club Fellow, ex-NASA Space Station Payload manager/space biologist, Away Teams, Journalist, Lapsed climber, Synaesthete, Na’Vi-Jedi-Freman-Buddhist-mix, ASL, Devon Island and Everest Base Camp veteran, (he/him) 🖖🏻