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The pet rock, named "Marvin," serves as a mascot for the mission and is a nod to the popular 1970s trend of having pet rocks. It also serves as a calibration target for the rover's cameras and instruments.
The pet rock was chosen and prepared by the team at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. They selected a rock with a smooth surface and a size that would fit in the rover's calibration target. The rock was then cleaned and painted with a special coating to protect it from the harsh Martian environment.
No, the pet rock will remain on Mars with the Perseverance lander. The rover is not designed to return to Earth and will remain on the planet to continue its scientific exploration.
The Perseverance lander also carries a plaque honoring healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, a silicon chip with the names of over 10 million people who participated in the "Send Your Name to Mars" campaign, and a piece of fabric from the original Wright brothers' plane.
Yes, the name "Marvin" is a reference to the popular cartoon character Marvin the Martian from Warner Bros. Looney Tunes. This is a nod to the rover's mission to search for signs of ancient microbial life on Mars.