NASA's Perseverance Rover Spots Potential Iron-Nickel Meteorite on Mars
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — NASA's Perseverance rover has discovered a desk-sized rock that scientists believe is a potential iron-nickel meteorite, offering insights into ancient asteroid cores from the early solar system.
The rock, nicknamed Phippsaksla, measures about 31 inches wide. The rover imaged it on Sol 1629, or Sept. 19, 2025, in the Vernodden area just beyond the rim of Jezero Crater on Mars, according to a NASA blog post.
Remote analysis by the rover's instruments detected high levels of iron and nickel, consistent with meteorites from shattered asteroids. The rock's sculpted shape and elevated position amid flatter, fragmented rocks suggest it fell from space, NASA scientists said in the post authored by Purdue University research scientist Candice Bedford.
Perseverance captured images using its Mastcam-Z camera. The rock rests on fractured bedrock formed by ancient impacts, which may reveal details about collisions that reshaped Mars' landscape, Bedford wrote in the Nov. 13, 2025, post. Scientists noted the rock's composition matches iron-nickel meteorites, which originate from the metal-rich cores of differentiated asteroids.
"Unusual 'sculpted, high-standing' rock nestled among 'low-lying, flat and fragmented surrounding rocks,' which got the attention of scientists right away," Bedford wrote, according to a Space.com report citing the NASA blog.
This marks potentially the first large meteorite candidate for Perseverance since it landed in February 2021, mission officials said. The rover has operated for more than 1,600 sols in Jezero Crater, an ancient lakebed site. Prior Mars rovers, including Opportunity in 2004 and Curiosity later, found similar iron meteorites, according to NASA records.
Phippsaksla differs from other recent finds, such as Cheyava Falls with its "leopard spots" in July 2024 or Sapphire Canyon, discussed for possible biosignatures. Phippsaksla shows no such features and focuses on meteoritic origins, according to the NASA blog.
Initial analysis used the rover's PIXL instrument for elemental mapping and SHERLOC for mineral detection, confirming elevated iron and nickel without direct contact, NASA said. The rover has not yet approached for closer study or sample collection, based on mission logs.
Purdue University's Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences highlighted Bedford's role in a Jan. 8, 2026, news item. She leads analysis of Martian rocks for the mission. Arizona State University processed the images, credited in NASA releases.
The rock's preservation on Mars results from the planet's thin atmosphere and low erosion rates, contrasting with Earth where such meteorites weather quickly, scientists said. Phippsaksla could serve as a "free sample" of asteroid interior material, aiding research on solar system formation, according to Bedford's post.
NASA's Psyche mission, which launched in 2023 to study a metal asteroid with similar iron-nickel compositions, aligns with this find, agency officials noted. Perseverance's discovery supports broader asteroid science without dedicated probes.
The rover continues collecting samples for the Mars Sample Return program, delayed by budget issues, which aims to bring Martian material to Earth for lab analysis, NASA said. Officials have not confirmed if Phippsaksla will join cached samples.
Mission leads at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory manage Perseverance operations, focusing on astrobiology and geology in Jezero Crater during the five-year mission. This meteorite candidate highlights serendipitous finds.
Scientists await further data to confirm Phippsaksla as a meteorite, labeling it a strong candidate based on composition and morphology, according to NASA, Purdue and Space.com sources.
The Vernodden area's impact-formed bedrock provides context for Mars' violent history, with ancient collisions likely scattering such rocks across the surface, researchers said.
Perseverance has identified smaller potential meteorites before, but Phippsaksla stands out for its size, NASA noted.
Future activities may include closer inspection. Mission logs show the rover moved beyond Vernodden after Sol 1629, but routes can adjust.
This discovery underscores Mars' value for preserving extraterrestrial samples, as Earth's dynamic environment destroys many meteorites while Mars keeps them intact, scientists said.
NASA plans no immediate press conference on Phippsaksla. The blog post serves as the primary public summary, with academic buzz growing at Purdue.
Officials expect more details in upcoming mission updates. Perseverance's longevity allows for such extended explorations, NASA said.
