NASA team uses Navajo language to name Mars land features seen in Perseverance rover images sent back from planet's surface Navajo Nation granted the team permission to use a list of words from its language to name formations Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer provided a list of words for the project 'Perseverance' was translated to 'Ha'ahóni' in Navajo language Rover's first scientific focus is a rock named 'Máaz' – the Navajo word for 'Mars'