Nasa thinks Mars rover succeeded in taking rock sample

Nasa's Perseverance rover may have managed to scoop a Martian rock sample after its previous attempt crumbled the rock. — NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS via AP

Nasa's Perseverance rover succeeded in its second attempt to scoop up a piece of Martian rock for future analysis by scientists on Earth – probably.

Its first effort earlier this month failed after the rock was too crumbly to withstand the robot's drill, but data received late on Sept 1 indicates the process worked this time around.