Perseverance rover set to break Mars distance record, surpassing 45 km driven

NASA's Perseverance rover, which landed on Mars in February 2021, is about to surpass 45.16 km driven on the Martian surface, breaking the distance record previously held by the Opportunity rover — which took three times as long to cover less ground. The key to Perseverance's record pace is its autonomous self-driving capability, allowing it to navigate without waiting for commands from Earth.