Accra:NASA's Perseverance rover has achieved a new milestone by setting the record for the longest distance traveled by a vehicle on another planet. This surpasses the previous record held by NASA's Opportunity rover, as announced in a press release.

According to Anadolu Agency, Perseverance had covered a distance of 28.1 miles (45.2 kilometers) on Mars by Sunday. This exceeds the 28.06-mile (45.16-kilometer) record set by Opportunity during its mission from 2004 to 2018.

The record-breaking achievement occurred while Perseverance was exploring the western rim of Jezero Crater. This area is of particular interest to scientists searching for evidence of ancient hydrothermal systems and potential signs of past microbial life.

Since its landing on Mars in February 2021, Perseverance has assisted scientists in reconstructing the history of Jezero Crater, which is believed to have once contained water. NASA indicated in 2023 that this region could have supported microbial life billions of years ago.

The rover's rapid progress is attributed to its autonomous navigation system, AutoNav, which enables it to analyze terrain images, identify hazards, and plan routes while in motion. This technology allows Perseverance to travel up to 1,351 feet (412 meters) in a single Martian day, or sol.

NASA has extended Perseverance's mission through the end of 2028, allowing it to continue its exploration of the Jezero Crater rim and potentially further extend its driving record.