Mastcam-Z
The pair of zoomable color cameras on the mast of NASA's Perseverance rover, which take 3D images and video of the Martian landscape. The flight cameras were calibrated at Malin Space Science Systems in San Diego.
Why it matters
Mastcam-Z is the rover's main set of science eyes. Scientists use its images to plan rover drives and to help choose which rocks to study and sample.
How the technology works
Two focusable, zoomable cameras sit side by side on the rover's mast so their images can be combined into 3D views. They shoot in human-like color and in up to 11 colors including near-ultraviolet and infrared, and record high-definition video.
The flight cameras were calibrated at MSSS in 2019 before delivery to JPL.
Sources
Updated Oct 22, 2026 · How we source facts · Suggest a correction