NASA's Perseverance rover has traveled more than 26.2 miles on Mars, completing the equivalent of a marathon in five years. The milestone was reached on June 14 while the rover explored terrain west of Jezero Crater.
The achievement makes Perseverance only the second NASA rover to cover that distance on another world. Opportunity accomplished the same feat in 2015 after 11 years and two months of driving.
Perseverance moves at a top speed of 0.1 mph under optimal conditions. By comparison, the Curiosity rover has covered just over 23 miles since arriving on Mars in 2012.
NASA said the rover crossed the mark while studying ancient terrain that once held a lake and may contain signs of past life. The agency shared images from the western excursion, including a recent selfie.
