Planetary Instrument for X-Ray Lithochemistry
Appearance
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/PIA24092-MarsRoverPerseverance-AtWorkOnMars-Art-20200922.jpg/400px-PIA24092-MarsRoverPerseverance-AtWorkOnMars-Art-20200922.jpg)
Mars Perseverance rover - PIXL studies a rock (artist concept)
Planetary Instrument for X-Ray Lithochemistry (PIXL) is an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer to determine the fine scale elemental composition of Martian surface materials designed for the Perseverance rover as part of the Mars 2020 mission.[1][2]
PIXL is manufactured and made by NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Science objectives
[edit]The scientific objectives of the instrument are the following:[3]
- Provide detailed geochemical assessment of past environments, habitability, and biosignature preservation potential.
- Detect any potential chemical biosignatures that are encountered and characterize the geochemistry of any other types of potential biosignatures detected.
- Provide a detailed geochemical basis for selection of a compelling set of samples for return to Earth.
Gallery
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/Mars2020Rover-PIXL-Head-20140731.jpg/600px-Mars2020Rover-PIXL-Head-20140731.jpg)
Perseverance rover - PIXL (31 July 2014).
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/PIA24762-Mars2020Mission-PIXL-FirstChemicalMaps-20210720.jpg/600px-PIA24762-Mars2020Mission-PIXL-FirstChemicalMaps-20210720.jpg)
PIXL − first chemical maps of a single rock on Mars (20 July 2021)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/PIXL_seen_on_Mars_from_the_left_Navcam_on_Perseverance.png/600px-PIXL_seen_on_Mars_from_the_left_Navcam_on_Perseverance.png)
PIXL imaged on Mars by the rover's navigation camera.
Perseverance analyzes Rochette rock (August 2021)
Planetary Instrument for X-Ray Lithochemistry (PIXL)
X-ray fluorescence spectrometer developed for the Perseverance rover to analyze the chemistry of surface materials.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Webster, Guy (31 July 2014). "Mars 2020 Rover's PIXL to Focus X-Rays on Tiny Targets". NASA. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- ^ "Adaptive sampling for rover X-ray lithochemistry" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-08-08.
- ^ "Mars 2020 Mission Perseverance Rover: PIXL".