NASA's Perseverance Mars rover finds groundwater, lakes, and hot fluids in one place

What happened

Scientists expected the crater’s Margin Unit to contain lake sediments, but instead found ancient igneous rocks that were altered by water on at least three separate occasions. When NASA's Perseverance rover (a vehicle that drives across another world’s surface) arrived at the inner rim of Mars' Jezero Crater in September 2023, researchers expected to encounter sedimentary rocks along what was once the shoreline of a Martian lake. NASA is a public and space exploration company founded in 1958.

NASA’s Perseverance rover has uncovered a surprisingly complicated history of water in Jezero Crater. Science News from research organizations NASA's Perseverance Mars rover finds groundwater, lakes, and hot fluids in one place Date: September 30, 2026 Source: NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory Summary: NASA’s Perseverance rover has uncovered a surprisingly complicated history of water in Jezero Crater. Share: Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email FULL STORY A new study suggests that Jezero Crater's mysterious "Margin Unit" records a far more complicated history of water than scientists expected, involving ancient lakes, groundwater, and later hydrothermal activity.

Key facts

• Scientists expected the crater’s Margin Unit to contain lake sediments, but instead — found: ancient igneous rocks that were altered by water on at least three separate occasions