Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Mars Perseverance Sol 353: Left Mastcam-Z Camera. This image was acquired on Feb. 16, 2022 (Sol 353).
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU

This image I posted of hardware on the surface of Mars generated quite a number of comments:

A few folks got close, or provided a partial ID…others were far afield!

Some of my favorites:

“I hope it wasn’t something mission critical.”

“Looks like a camera lens or a Starbucks cup.”

“Looks like a part fell off one of the vehicles we’ve sent there.”

“Space debris is really getting out of hand.”

“Empty can of Centauri Lite.”

“Proof that robots are just as messy as teenagers.”

“Flashlight or beer bottle.”

“The fine for littering on Mars is very, very steep. Who’s ever it is had best come pick it up.”

“Lightsaber hilt.”

However, a tip of the space helmet visor for a more complete description goes to Philip J. Stooke, Professor Emeritus and Adjunct Research Professor, Department of Geography, and Institute for Earth and Space Exploration, University of Western Ontario.

Stooke reports:

“It is the Flight Abrading Bit which was discarded on sol 148.  During flight and landing it occupied the drill bit slot to keep it from being contaminated.  It was discarded shortly before the first abrading and sampling operations.”

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