NASA's Perseverance rover has potentially made a significant discovery by identifying its first meteorite on Mars, marking an important milestone in its mission since landing in Jezero Crater over four years ago. The boulder, informally named 'Phippsaksla,' was detected on September 2, 2025, during mission Sol 1612, located in the Vernodden region near the edge of Jezero Crater. This distinctive, metallic-looking rock stood out among the flatter, fragmented Martian terrain.

Researchers initially captured images of Phippsaksla using the Mastcam-Z, revealing it to be a glossy boulder measuring approximately 80 to 81 cm long. Its unique color and texture set it apart from other Martian rocks in the vicinity. Follow-up assessments employing the rover’s SuperCam laser and spectrometers indicated a rich concentration of iron and nickel in the rock, suggesting a potential origin from a metallic meteorite formed within the cores of large asteroids. If this hypothesis is validated, it would represent Perseverance's first meteorite acquisition since its February 18, 2021, landing.

The discovery of Phippsaksla is particularly important, considering that previous Martian rovers such as Curiosity, Opportunity, and Spirit have all identified iron-nickel meteorites, including samples like 'Lebanon' and 'Cacao.' Until now, Perseverance's lack of meteorite findings in the ancient and impact-rich Jezero Crater had puzzled scientists. The identification of Phippsaksla provides evidence that meteorites have landed on Jezero's floor, delta, and rim over a span of billions of years, thus closing a longstanding gap in the mission’s findings.

To further validate the meteorite origin of Phippsaksla, scientists will engage in additional imaging and contextual measurements. They aim to investigate its internal structure, weathering processes, and duration on the surface, while also seeking clues relating to early solar system materials. Although Perseverance is not intended to cache this rock for eventual return, the acquired data remains valuable for comparison with meteorites unearthed on Earth and by earlier Mars missions.

While meteorite discovery is a secondary objective for the Perseverance rover—which primarily seeks signs of ancient life in Jezero—it is nonetheless a scientifically significant endeavor. Metallic meteorites are essential for understanding the formation, evolution, and alteration of differentiated asteroids, along with serving as natural indicators of surface processes on Mars. They provide insights into how Martian environmental factors, like wind and temperature changes, influence extraterrestrial materials over time.

Moving forward, Perseverance will continue its exploration of the Jezero rim and its surrounding units, balancing its search for biosignatures with opportunities to investigate targets like Phippsaksla. For planetary scientists, the potential identification of this meteorite represents a long-awaited breakthrough and a crucial data point for evaluating Mars’s history of receiving and retaining material from outer space.