Perseverance rover marks four years on Mars with 500,000th laser shot

03-13-2025

The SuperCam instrument is mounted at the top of the Perseverance rover, as seen here on Mars. Its laser fires at rocks and soils through the 4.5" window, using its optics to analyze its targets by optical emission. Photo Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU.

On the fourth anniversary of its landing on Mars, NASA's Perseverance rover marked a significant milestone. It has now fired its 500,000th laser shot using the SuperCam instrument. This accomplishment highlights its longevity and success, developed under the guidance of Purdue University professor Roger Wiens.

Humanity's quest to understand Mars has reached new heights, driven by the groundbreaking SuperCam instrument aboard the Perseverance rover. This state-of-the-art tool, developed under the leadership of Purdue's Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Science professor Roger Wiens, has redefined our ability to explore and analyze the Red Planet's rugged terrain. Wiens, who proposed the instrument to NASA and now co-leads its scientific team, provides an in-depth look at SuperCam's technological expertise, collaborative development, and the discoveries it has facilitated, offering a glimpse into Mars' ancient past and its potential for harboring life.

At the heart of SuperCam's capabilities is its innovative laser and telescope system located on the top of the rover. Wiens elaborated on the process, stating, "The laser is mounted at the top of the rover's mast and fires its beam through a 4" telescope at targets within 40 feet of the rover. The laser provides the science team with information on the elemental and mineral composition of the rocks and whether they were exposed to water in the past, like in a lake or river. In this way, we learn about the ancient environment of the red planet."

SuperCam also includes infrared vision for analyzing rock minerals, a high-resolution camera that can "spot a softball from a mile away," according to Wiens, and a microphone that captures sounds from Mars. It has recorded audio of the Ingenuity helicopter, dust devils, and wind turbulence. Future Mars missions may rely on this data to determine where to land and what samples to prioritize in the search for past microbial life.

The SuperCam instrument reveals Mars' watery past in an ancient crater lake featuring a river delta. SuperCam's long-range camera and laser have identified boulders, altered rocks, and sulfates, indicating potential flash floods, a warm and wet climate, and rapid evaporation.

SuperCam's 500,000th shot coincided with Perseverance's fourth anniversary on Mars, marking its Martian debut landing on February 18th, 2021. The target that received the half-millionth laser shot was a strip of bedrock named "Whites River" (see photo below) located in the Gros Morne quadrangle on the west rim of Jezero crater.

SuperCam was developed and built by Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico and the Institute for Research in Astrophysics and Planetary Science (IRAP) in Toulouse, France, with major contributions from CNES and other institutions. Its longevity reflects exceptional craftsmanship, allowing for ongoing discoveries. Wiens says, "In my career, I have seen various failures of equipment during flight, which reminds me to be grateful for SuperCam's continued success."

 

The target analyzed with the half-millionth laser shot from SuperCam on Mars is a strip of bedrock that was 12 meters (38 feet) from the rover. The red crosses mark the locations analyzed by the laser. The rock is fine-grained and likely consists of ancient lithified sand dunes. Photo Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/LANL/CNES/IRAP.

SuperCam's success demonstrates the strength of international collaboration with researchers at Purdue University. The project unites a diverse team of about 85 scientists, engineers, and students from institutions across North America and Europe. Wiens highlights the team's daily efforts to keep the Perseverance rover active and thriving from 140 million miles away to the Red Planet, "The team sends commands to Mars nearly every weekday to use SuperCam to explore the environment around the Perseverance rover as it travels across the Martian terrain. Operations alternate between North America and Europe; each Monday, the lead switches over to the other continent." This global network ensures that the instrument benefits from a wide range of expertise, fostering innovation and accelerating scientific progress.

The research team at Purdue University is actively involved in the operation and analysis of the data from SuperCam. Purdue University's Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences (EAPS) includes Dr. Candice Bedford, a research scientist, and graduate students Dr. Stephanie Connell (third-year), Henry Manelski (third-year), Noah Martin (first-year), along with Wiens himself. "Candice, Stephanie, Henry, and Noah are all heavily involved in operating the SuperCam instrument and in writing about the discoveries that we have made with SuperCam," said Wiens. Their dedication and expertise have been crucial in transforming raw data into significant scientific insights, further reinforcing SuperCam's position as a cornerstone of Mars exploration, which is rooted in the spirit of Boilermaker pride.

The SuperCam team operates the instrument on Mars daily and studies its results. The team consists of approximately 85 scientists and engineers working throughout North America and Europe, shown here at a meeting in Spain. Courtesy U. Valladolid.

Wiens' leadership has been the driving force behind SuperCam's development and ongoing mission. With a deep commitment to advancing planetary science, Wiens spearheaded the instrument and guided its creation from concept to reality. "I proposed the instrument to NASA and led its development and now co-lead its scientific team," he shared. "I'm very proud of the engineers who built SuperCam's laser and the students and scientists who are carefully operating our instrument."

The SuperCam project at Purdue is funded by NASA's Mars Exploration Program, with support through Los Alamos National Laboratory, where Wiens worked before arriving at Purdue. The French government provides funding for its operation in France, and organizations in Spain, Canada, Germany, Denmark, and Italy also operate on local funding.

This funding and international collaboration have been critical to ensure that the instrument remains operational and continues to produce valuable data. Wiens explains, "Purdue has developed a strong program in planetary science. I came to Purdue University three years ago to take advantage of the synergy with other planetary science professors and their students and staff."

Roger Wiens (Purdue University photo/Kelsey Lefever)

As Wiens and his team at Purdue University, along with the international group, advance, the secrets of the Red Planet are gradually being unveiled, offering a tantalizing glimpse into its ancient history and role in the cosmic narrative of life. Through the lens of SuperCam, Mars is no longer just a distant world. It has become a living laboratory, rich with the potential to transform our understanding of the universe.

 

About the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences at Purdue University

The Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences (EAPS) combines four of Purdue’s most interdisciplinary programs: Geology & Geophysics, Environmental Sciences, Atmospheric Sciences, and Planetary Sciences. EAPS conducts world-class research, educates undergraduate and graduate students, and provides our college, university, state and country with the information necessary to understand the world and universe around us. Our research is globally recognized, our students are highly valued by graduate schools, employers, and our alumni continue to make significant contributions in academia, industry, and federal and state government.

 

Written by: David Siple, Communications Specialist, in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences (EAPS) at Purdue University.

Contributions by: Roger Wiens, Professor in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences (EAPS) at Purdue University.