Strategic Approach and First Results From the Jezero Crater Rim Campaign

The Mars 2020 mission has been conducting in-situ investigation of the geology, habitability, and biosignature preservation potential and collecting samples for return to Earth in Jezero crater, Mars for nearly 4 years. After exploring the Jezero crater floor, the fan front and fan top, and the crater margin, in August 2024 the rover climbed up the inner crater rim, marking the beginning of the Crater Rim Campaign. Investigation and sampling of the diversity of crater rim rocks is imperative because they represent materials from Mars’ most ancient crust that should record a diversity of geologic processes and potential ancient habitable environments that were not exposed in Jezero crater.