NASA’s Perseverance rover is embarking on a challenging climb up 1,000 feet to the rim of Jezero Crater on Mars, after spending 3 1/2 years exploring its floor.

The rover, which has already collected 22 rock samples from the crater’s bottom, will now gather samples from the crater’s rim.

These samples could provide insights into Mars’ ancient climate and the possibility of past life.

The journey, which involves navigating steep and rocky terrain over several months, may also reveal clues about the formation of rocky planets like Mars and Earth, Phys.org has reported.

Scientists are particularly interested in the potential discovery of rocks from past hydrothermal vents, which on Earth are linked to the origins of life.

Written by B.C. Begley