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Perseverance robot listens as it zaps rocks

So, now we know what a laser sounds like on another world. The US space agency's Perseverance rover has deployed its SuperCam instrument on Mars for the first time. This high-intensity light probe can identify rocks at a distance. It's a technique that was also employed by Nasa's previous rover, Curiosity. But Perseverance has some enhancements, including a microphone that allows us to actually hear the laser at work. Listen to a 10-second burst.

10 March 2021

Nasa Perseverance Mars rover

Space exploration

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