There is a hidden message in the parachute of NASA’s Mars rover

Video clips of the parachute rover landing that helped NASA’s Perseverance Rover Land on Mars last week returned to reveal mostly random patterns of colors. But there was something else in the story: NASA officials later said it contained a hidden message written in binary computer code.

Internet sluts broke the message within hours. The red and white style focus rings have “Dear Mighty Things”. The saying is the motto of the Perseverance Team, and it is also emblazoned on the walls of the Mission Control at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), the mission team’s Southern California headquarters.

The outer ring of the parachute appears to translate into a compilation for JPL: 34 ° 11’58 “N118 ° 10’31” W.

Alan Chen, the landing lead for entry, descent and perseverance, dared to figure out a message to people during a press conference on Monday. “In addition to enabling incredible science, we hope our efforts in our engineering can inspire others.”

“Sometimes we put his messages in our work for others for that purpose, so we invite you all to give him a shot and show your work.”

Adam Steltzner, chief engineer of Perseverance, confirmed the message on Twitter late Monday night.

The message “Der Mighty Things” was not the only strange determination brought to Mars. Zooming in on one of several images of the wreckage released from the rover this week shows a small family portrait of a Mars rovers, diligence, and ingenuity helicopter on Mars with a firm grip on Mars.

Photo: NASA / JPL | Edit by Joy Lette Late / The Verge

In the past NASA has included hidden messages on its rovers. The Curiosity rover, which landed on the Red Planet in 2012, had small holes drilled in the hollow aluminum wheels next to it to catch the Martian gravel from the inside.

Those holes read “JPL” in Morse code. So while curiosity surfaced, “JPL” was stamped in Morse code on Martian land (although it was soon erased by Martian winds).

Said Chen Edge That hardworking engineers may have put more hidden messages on the rover outside the “Der Mighty Things” code in its parachute.

“People can’t resist putting a little personal touch into their work,” Chen said. “But most of this will never be known – even by me.”