Here is why the core has to be deep inside the tube: the cap has substantial size to ensure that the seal will withstand the harsh environment of Mars, the vacuum of space, reentry in Earth's atmosphere, and landing.

Image from: The Sampling and Caching Subsystem (SCS) for the Scientific Exploration of Jezero Crater by the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-020-00783-7

#Perseverance #SamplingMars #NASA #Solarocks #Space

And… we have cigar!

in the shape of a new rock sample (#sample27) from the rock #Perseverance had abraded recently and just cored as a present to herself for her own "birthday" tomorrow, when she becomes 4 years old on Mars 😍

Animation
CACHECAM, RMC 69.0000

Processed, undistorted NAVCAM_RIGHT
looking SE (131°) from RMC 69.0000
Sol 1420, LMST: 16:43:37

Originala:
https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020-raw-images/pub/ods/surface/sol/01420/ids/edr/browse/cachecam/CCF_1420_0793027429_316ECMUN0690000CACH00225_01_295J01.png
https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020-raw-images/pub/ods/surface/sol/01420/ids/edr/browse/ncam/NRF_1420_0793015885_660ECM_N0690000NCAM00709_04_095J01.png

Credit: #NASA/JPL-Caltech/65dBnoise

#Mars2020 #Solarocks #Space #SamplingMars

@PaulHammond51
It may be small and ugly, but that is definitely a piece of rock in there. And the tube is capped and sealed, which makes it #Sample26 (animated image below).

CACHECAM
looking down from RMC 66.0000
Sol 1401, LMST: 18:49:01

Original: https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020-raw-images/pub/ods/surface/sol/01401/ids/edr/browse/cachecam/CCF_1401_0791336899_927ECMUN0660000CACH00230_01_295J01.png

Credit: #NASA/JPL-Caltech/65dBnoise

#Perseverance #SamplingMars #Mars2020 #Solarocks #Space

Yesterday @PaulHammond51 noticed the difference in the color of tailings from the "Apollo Temple" abrasion (thanks for the name @JoseAC !) and the drilling for the new sample. Here is a better image showing them both:

Processed MCZ_RIGHT, FL: 110mm
looking WSW (258°) from RMC 56.0000
Sol 1217, LMST: 12:46:31
Original: https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020-raw-images/pub/ods/surface/sol/01217/ids/edr/browse/zcam/ZR0_1217_0774980023_770EBY_N0560000ZCAM09264_1100LMJ01.png

Credit: #NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/65dBnoise
#Perseverance #Mars2020 #Solarocks #Space #SamplingMars

This animation superimposes an image of the surface of the rock with the #leopardSpots on one of the bottom of the rock sample in the sample tube, suggesting possible similar patterns through the body of the rock sample.

Surface image:
https://mastodon.social/@65dBnoise/112751562741086753

#Perseverance #Mars2020 #NASA #Solarocks #Space #astrodon #samplingMars

Apparently #Perseverance had another go at rock Bunsen Peak, and this time it succeeded in getting a core. The proof is in the images.

For a 100% successful sample acquisition, the sample has to be measured and the tube capped & sealed before being stashed along with the other samples inside the rover's belly.

Processed CACHECAM
looking down from RMC 51.0000
Sol 1088, LMST: 18:19:01
Original: https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020-raw-images/pub/ods/surface/sol/01088/ids/edr/browse/cachecam/CCF_1088_0763548620_054ECMUN0510000CACH00227_01_295J01.png
Credit: #NASA/JPL-Caltech/65dBnoise

#Mars2020 #Solarocks #Space #SamplingMars

Images from Sol 1086 show us that the rover acquired a fractured core, but it appears as though it was lost during transfer to the imaging station (MastCam & CacheCam) Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS

#Perseverance #Mars2020 #Solarocks #Space #SamplingMars

The last step in the process of acquiring a rock sample: visual proof that the sample is capped and sealed. Then it goes for safekeeping in #Perseverance's belly.

RMC 46.0000
Sol 949, LMST: 15:22:41

Processed CACHECAM
Original: https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020-raw-images/pub/ods/surface/sol/00949/ids/edr/browse/cachecam/CCF_0949_0751198091_721ECMUN0460000CACH00200_01_295J01.png
Credit: #NASA/JPL-Caltech/65dBnoise

#SamplingMars #Mars2020 #Solarocks #Space

#Perseverance acquired, capped and sealed a new sample, all in one go, late in the night on Sol 923.

Here is an animation of 20 CACHECAM images with the sample in the measuring station, and after being capped and sealed, played at 5 fps.

Cropped raw CACHECAM animation
Sol: 923, RMC: 45.0000, LMST: 21:27:21
Original: https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020-raw-images/pub/ods/surface/sol/00923/ids/edr/browse/cachecam/CCF_0923_0748912434_241ECMUN0450000CACH00227_01_295J01.png
Credit: #NASA/JPL-Caltech/65dBnoise

#Mars2020 #Solarocks #Space #SamplingMars