NASA studies Mars rover sample collection failure

The Perseverance Mars rover, making its first attempt to collect a rock sample from the floor of Jezero Crater, drilled into a targeted rock as planned Friday, but photos and telemetry indicate nothing was captured, possibly due to the nature of the targeted formation.

Engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory are reviewing data from the rover to figure out why the initial sample collection attempt was "not the 'hole-in-one' we hoped for," said NASA science chief Thomas Zurbuchen. "There is always risk with breaking new ground," he said in a statement. "I'm confident we have the right team working this, and we will persevere toward a solution to ensure future success."