I never really understood why you'd have Perseverance drill the cores and then just leave them on the ground for an underdefined future mission to retrieve.
They do store the tubes onboard according to: <a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-perseverance-rover-completes-mars-sample-depot/" rel="nofollow">https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-perseverance-rover-compl...
It says they have two sets of every sample: One onboard and one in the designated drop area.
The drop area is a backup: if the rover dies while travelling somewhere, the return pickup mission would not be in the right spot.
Imnimo · · focus · HN ↗
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It says they have two sets of every sample: One onboard and one in the designated drop area.
The drop area is a backup: if the rover dies while travelling somewhere, the return pickup mission would not be in the right spot.