This announcement came following a weekend’s worth of teasers by NASA to pique interest in the report.
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While water is only found “under certain circumstances” and is salty, it is a huge step forward in our quest to find life on another planet, and eventually send humans to our closest planetary neighbour. He said it also probably had snowcapped peaks, clouds and a water cycle just like ours.
Scientists at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration confirm news that the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter identified evidence of “hydrated salts called perchlorates that have formed streaks on slopes on Mars’ surface”.
However, the strongest case for the flow of liquid water on Mars may be that the evidence appears to be seasonal. Exploration by the Curiosity Rover proves that billions of years ago it was once a planet similar to Earth. Ojha said the discovery suggests the presence of flowing water, but that it could be hard to prove.
Researchers measured the spectral signatures of hydrated minerals on the planet’s slopes where mysterious, possibly water-related streaks are found. Lujendra Ojha first discovered the streaks in 2010 when he was a University of Arizona undergraduate.
“Our view of Mars, of this ancient Mars, has been really about seeking chemical fossils of possible past life on Mars”. It’s likely a shallow subsurface flow, with enough water wicking to the surface to explain the darkening, NASA stated. As we ingest the soils, they’re moist, they’re hydrated, full of water.
Why does NASA’s water on mars announcement matter?
There is liquid water today on the surface of Mars. The images gained during the research showed the steaks darkened and appear to flow during Mars’ warmer season and then quickly fade in its cooler season.
Dark narrow streaks, up to a few hundred yards long, are seen along many slopes on Mars including Garni Crater.
“Mars has resources that are useful to future travelers”, Grunsfeld said.
Although the source and the chemistry of the water is unknown, the discovery could affect thinking about whether the planet that is most like Earth in the solar system could support microbial life.
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Water is “critical” he said, but the planet also offers other key elements like nitrogen which could be used to grow plants in greenhouses and the types of salts that could be used to make rocket fuel.
