NASA Rover Finds Potential Meteorite on Mars

Pasadena, California — NASA’s Perseverance rover has made a significant discovery on Mars, encountering a rock with unusual features that may be a meteorite. The rock, named “Phippsaksla,” was targeted for investigation due to its unique shape and texture, which stood out against the flatter surrounding rocks.

The rover captured a close-up image of Phippsaksla on Sept. 19, 2025, at 12:11:25 local solar time on the 1,629th Martian day of the Mars 2020 mission. The image was taken using Perseverance’s Left Mastcam-Z camera.

Initial analyses indicate that the rock has high levels of iron and nickel, elements commonly found in iron-nickel meteorites formed in the cores of large asteroids. This suggests that Phippsaksla may have originated from outside Mars.

During a separate investigation at the site “Vernodden,” Perseverance also encountered Phippsaksla while examining the bedrock. This encounter raised excitement among scientists, as meteorites have been less frequently discovered by Perseverance compared to previous Mars rovers, including Curiosity, which has found many similar meteorites in Gale Crater.

The scarcity of iron-nickel meteorites in Jezero Crater, where Perseverance is exploring, was unexpected given its geological history. The rover’s latest findings could challenge previous assumptions, as the surrounding area bears evidence of ancient impact processes that typically lead to meteorite occurrences.

Confirmation of Phippsaksla’s meteorite status will require further investigation by NASA’s team. If verified, it will mark a milestone for Perseverance, adding it to the list of Mars rovers that have encountered exotic rock formations during their missions.