--- title: "NASA Shows Off Photo of Rock With Laser Holes From Mars Rover" description: "NASA showed off a picture of a peculiar Martian rock that was zapped with its rover Perseverance's onboard laser." date: "2021-03-31" modified: "2021-03-31" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/nasa-photo-rock-laser-holes-mars-rover" categories: - "Astronomy" - "Mars" - "NASA" - "Space" tags: - "mars" - "NASA" - "perseverance" - "the digest" --- # NASA Shows Off Photo of Rock With Laser Holes From Mars Rover ![NASA showed off a picture of a peculiar Martian rock that was zapped with its rover Perseverance's onboard laser.]() *\Image: NASA\* ## Zap Zap NASA is showing off its Mars Perseverance rover's handiwork on a nearby rock. "While the [helicopter is getting ready](), I can’t help checking out nearby rocks," the rover's official account [wrote in a tweet today](). "This odd one has my science team trading lots of hypotheses." https://twitter.com/NASAPersevere/status/1377328024991846400?s=19 ## Laser Holes The rock in the picture, roughly six inches long, appears to be riddled with large holes. But on closer inspection, that's not the only set of holes it has. "If you look closely, you might spot the row of laser marks where I zapped it to learn more," reads the rover's tweet. Indeed, a row of smaller round imprints can be seen towards the right hand side of the rock. That's where Perseverance's SuperCam instrument penetrated the rock's outer layers. ![]() ## SuperCam The laser is sensitive enough to gain insights into a given rock's organic makeup by zapping it with a powerful laser to heat it up to around 18,000 degrees Fahrenheit. A special camera then analyzes the resulting vapors. NASA is hoping to use the system to get more information about possible biosignatures and evidence of past microbial life on Mars. Earlier this month, [NASA released recordings]() taken by the instrument's microphone. Small snaps could be heard as the laser struck a nearby rock target. So far, scientists have observed that a different rock target, nicknamed Máaz, which was struck by the laser in early March, was made out of basalt, igneous or volcanic rocks that are common on both Mars and Earth. The rock and many like it may have "washed downriver into Jezero Lake and cemented together," as SuperCam principal investigator Roger Wiens suggested during a [March 10 live stream](), referring to Perseverance's landing spot, an area believed to be an ancient lake bed. **More on SuperCam:** *[NASA’s New Rover Just Shot a Rock With Its Laser]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()