The discovery increases the likelihood that there is life on Mars, perhaps in the form of so-called extremophiles – organisms that can survive in the extreme temperatures, acidic environments and anaerobic corners of space.
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Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter makes its measurements during the hottest part of the Martian day, so NASA believed any traces of water would have evaporated.
In the new pictures of Mars unveiled during the announcement, long, dark streaks are seen on the surfaces of the planet.
But after careful study and analysis, they are ready to say that these streaks are, in fact, water. “We don’t know if it’s possible for life to start on Mars“, explains Michael Meyer, lead scientist for the Mars Exploration Program at NASA Headquarters. While there is no conclusive answer yet, the presence of water and methane suggests that there may be microscopic beings on the planet.
Water on Mars exists today nearly exclusively as ice, though it also exists in small quantities as vapour in the atmosphere and occasionally as low volume liquid brines in shallow Martian soils. The finding has caused the scientific community to once again open the debate on whether or not life can be sustained on the Red Planet.
“This is tremendously exciting”, James L. Green, the director of NASA’s planetary science division, said during in a news conference on Monday as reported by New York Times. The confirmation of liquid water on Mars opens the doors to that mind-blowing possibility, and also makes a manned flight to the planet more viable – perhaps even by 2030.
The source of the water remains a mystery as well.
Space scientist Sarah Crowther told Newsround the discovery does not confirm there is life on Mars in any way. So NASA has decided they only need to be Category IVb, meaning a few bacterial spores are OK, so long as the rovers stay away from places where there might be water present.
This is not the first discovery of water on Mars. “Does that mean there was an ocean?’ Are we right now what Mars was 750 million years ago?’ And they went, ‘Uh, good question.’ So they want to go up there and find out”.
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If scientists prove that there is water on Mars, the planet could potentially form a human habitat.
