NASA’s six-wheeled Perseverance rover set a new driving record on October 11. It reached 28.10 miles, or 45.22 kilometers, on Mars—the longest distance driven by a vehicle on another world. The previous record belonged to Opportunity, which traveled 28.06 miles. Perseverance reached its total in about five and a half years, compared with almost 15 years for Opportunity.
Much of this progress comes from AutoNav, a system that lets the rover choose safe routes while moving. Cameras help it build a three-dimensional map and identify obstacles. Engineers on Earth choose points for the rover to reach, but it can make driving decisions without waiting for detailed instructions. AutoNav has guided more than 90% of its travel, while Opportunity’s earlier system guided about 5%.
NASA has extended Perseverance’s mission through approximately the end of 2028. The rover will continue exploring the rim of Jezero Crater. It has collected 29 rock and soil samples and identified a possible sign of ancient life in a rock. However, that finding does not prove that life existed on Mars.
