Berlin science in space: Mars research at the DLR

Brain City Berlin

Space may seem impossibly distant, but at the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, DLR) in Brain City Berlin, it suddenly feels very close. The centre has been involved in two key experiments on NASA's Mars rover Perseverance for several years now, and this year joined NASA in celebrating the mission's fifth anniversary.

Steady and persevering

Perseverance is an apt name for a rover on the Red Planet. It landed in Jezero Crater on 18 February 2021 and has since travelled more than 40 kilometres, completed four scientific campaigns and collected over 30 rock, regolith and atmospheric samples. It has explored the volcanic crater floor, investigated the sediments of an ancient river delta, and is currently operating beyond the crater rim, where rock from deep within the Martian crust was thrown to the surface billions of years ago. For five years, it has been transmitting high-resolution image, spectral and environmental data back to Earth.

The mission's highlight

One of the most remarkable moments of the mission so far was the investigation of a rock nicknamed "Cheyava Falls". It contains a striking pattern of bright calcium sulphate spots surrounded by dark, iron- and phosphate-rich halos reminiscent of a leopard's coat. These features point to chemical reactions in a watery environment that could have supported microbial life billions of years ago. They represent some of the strongest biosignatures ever found on Mars, though they do not yet constitute definitive proof of life. Whether Mars was ever habitable can ultimately only be confirmed by examining the collected samples back on Earth.

Berlin expertise at work

The DLR Institute of Planetary Research in Berlin plays a central role in the tactical and strategic planning of images taken by the Mastcam-Z camera system, and contributes to the scientific analysis of the image data. This expertise, built up through missions such as Mars Express, Dawn and the MASCOT lander, makes it possible to create three-dimensional terrain models, analyse geological structures with precision, and identify suitable targets for further investigation. The DLR also supports the operation and analysis of the SuperCam instrument and the calibration of the MEDA weather sensor, which records wind speed, temperature and dust particles in the Martian atmosphere.

Planetary scientist Nicole Schmitz from the DLR Institute of Planetary Research in Berlin says: "In more than five years on Mars, the Mastcam-Zs have taken tens of thousands of high-resolution images. They provided us with crucial insights into Jezero Crater, revealed unexpected volcanic rock structures, and were indispensable in the precise selection of valuable rock samples. We will be occupied with the scientific analysis of these fascinating images for many years to come."

The question of whether Mars once harboured life remains unanswered. But thanks to the work coming out of Brain City Berlin, we are a significant step closer to finding out.

Further reading

DLR press release

NASA images from the Mars rover

NASA information on Perseverance