A bright object seems to be following the rover and we may have found evidence of alien life in the form of lichen. My favourite episode so far! Join our patreon community here: patreon.com/elderfoxdocumentaries Your contributions are appreciated so much and allow us to keep making videos about Mars. ------------------- Description: In the episode "30 Months On Mars: 797 – 886 (17th May – 17th Aug 2023) - A Bright Object Is Following Us," the Perseverance rover explores various locations on Mars while capturing high-definition imagery and attempting to gather rock samples. The rover sits on the edge of the Belva crater and examines its sediment and boulders. Attempts to collect drill samples initially prove unsuccessful due to the rocks' crumbly nature. Finally, at a site called 'Emerald Lake,' the rover successfully retrieves a sample, naming it 'Otis Peak.' This sample could offer insights into Mars' lost magnetic field. During the episode, Perseverance also loses contact with Earth for five days, which causes concern, although communication is later restored. The episode also highlights the absence of the Ingenuity helicopter, with which the rover has lost contact. Intriguingly, a bright object, potentially a piece of spacecraft debris, seems to be "following" the rover. It could either be moving with the Martian wind or be a different piece of debris altogether. Throughout the episode, NASA's team spots unusual rocks and features that provoke speculation and curiosity. Among these are rocks resembling faces and other forms, likely shaped by cavernous weathering. Additionally, some markings on rocks capture attention as they resemble Earth's lichen, although it's theorized that these are most likely byproducts of the rover's abrasion operations. The episode concludes with yet another attempt to drill a rock, which also turns out to be too hard for the equipment. - Written by ChatGPT4 based on video transcript. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Facebook https://www.facebook.com/elderfoxdocs Mars Playlist:    • ElderFox Mars   Space Playlist:    • Elderfox Space   Twitter: https://twitter.com/Elderfoxdocume1 Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/Cornell Univ./Arizona State Univ./SSI Music: Epidemic Sound Special thanks to https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTSWebmSKFeq9iGuT_Kl-SA for his episodes on the rover, providing me with greater context on the various weathering patterns and geology. If you haven't checked out his videos yet, be sure to do so! Please note: We are not affiliated with NASA in any way, we just want more people to be inspired by their great work!