Mars rover photos have scientists excited

The world has got its first close-up look at a Mars landing, with Nasa released a stunning picture of its newest rover being lowered on to the red planet’s dusty surface.

The Perseverance rover successfully touched down near an ancient river delta, where it will search for signs of ancient life and set aside the most promising rock samples for return to Earth in a decade.

‘‘This is something that we’ve never seen before,’’ said Nasa flight system engineer Aaron Stehura.

The rover is healthy, according to Nasa officials, after landing on a flat, safe surface in Jezero Crater with just 1 degree of tilt and relatively small rocks nearby.

The vehicle’s systems are still being checked, and it will be at least a week before it starts moving.

Another photo of Perseverance’s front right wheel, near rocks full of holes, already has scientists salivating. They’re eager to learn whether these rocks are volcanic or sedimentary.

China will attempt to land its own much smaller rover later this year, while the United Arab Emirates also put a spacecraft into Martian orbit last week.

Across

1. Pale (6)

3. Prudish (4)

7. Join together (4)

8. Long flag (6)

10. Understand (7)

13. Resolved (7)

16. Damned (6)

17. Survey of public opinion (4)

18. Small stream (4)

19. Steal (6)

Down

1. Animal skin (4)

2. Dally (6)

4. Pealed (4)

5. Homicide (6)

6. Bitter (7)

9. Claimed, supposed (7)

11. Agree (6)

12. Prior (6)

14. Verbal (4)

15. Run away (4)