10 Mars Liquid Water Discovery Facts - WMNews Ep. 48

10 Mars Liquid Water Discovery Facts - WMNews Ep. 48

#10: What Was the Discovery?
The Liquid Water

After years of research and experimentation, scientists confirmed the presence of liquid water on the surface of present day Mars at the end of September 2015. It had long been assumed that Mars retains a certain amount of water within itself, in its ice and soil, and there are numerous arguments for the existence of liquid water in its history. However, in 2015, scientists were able to conclusively say that flowing water is a modern-day reality. Naturally, the advance further fuelled speculation that Mars could host some form of life.

#9: Where Did This Water Come From?
The Origin

The discovery centers on a series of dark streaks visible on the planet’s surface, which disappear and reappear with the seasons. The streaks – dubbed ‘recurring slope lineae’, or ‘RSL’ – are now thought to be the product of a surface flow of extremely salty brine, which evaporates and leaves behind a salt deposit. However, the origin of that liquid is still unknown. Basic reasoning says that it either comes from above (from a near-surface atmosphere much more humid than first thought); or from below (from underground stores of water frozen during winter, thawed during summer, and seeping to the surface).

#8: Is Mars Similar to Earth?
The Planet

The very fact that Mars has an axial tilt of 25.2 degrees, and is therefore subject to seasons, is evidence that it is similar to Earth. The planet is 50% farther from the Sun than us, but it does have polar ice caps, and there’s evidence that water has played a part in its geological evolution – although it’s not believed to have had as predominant a role as it has on Earth. In terms of temperature, Mars is a lot colder than our planet, averaging around -67° F and ranging between -207° F and 80° F depending on the location and season, and Martian atmospheric pressure is considerably lower than the Earth’s. The conditions on Mars may be similar to those of an early Earth – so, any advance made in the search for Martian life, could also impact the understanding of history of life on our own planet.

#7: Has There Been Life on Mars?
The Past

To date, there is no conclusive evidence showing that Mars has ever been inhabited. However, as scientific knowledge surrounding the planet grows, there is an increasing belief that Mars was once, at least, habitable. In 1996, much scientific and media hysteria surrounded the discovery of a Martian meteorite in Antarctica, within which some scientists claimed was fossilized proof of past life on Mars. Those claims have since been brought into question, but recent surveys indicate that around three quarters of the space research community believes that life has existed on Mars, at some point in history.

#6: Is There Currently Life on Mars?
The Unknown

Again, to date there’s no conclusive evidence that life, as we know it, exists on Mars currently. The recent discoveries surrounding surface water further enhance the possibility of life, but living proof is still not available. Future missions are likely to focus beneath the surface of the planet, as it’s widely believed to be impossible that life could exist within Mars’ extremely harsh, radioactive surface conditions. So far, small areas a few meters underground have been briefly explored, but there’s a long-term goal to go deeper into the planet’s subsurface.

#5: Can NASA Explore the Water?
The Prohibition

Until now, Recurring Slope Lineae research has been conducted from afar, with images provided by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Although there currently exist rover machines on the surface of Mars collecting data, NASA has no immediate plans to get closer to the salty deposits. The main reason being that they fear cross-contamination. Current machines have not been ‘baked’ or sterilized, and subsequently may still carry Earth microbes, which might present a toxic danger to Martian water. There isn’t a scheduled launch to Mars in the near future that’ll be any cleaner, meaning it could be decades before contact is actually made with the water.

#4: When Will Humans Be Able to Go to Mars?
The Journey

According to NASA, the capabilities to send human beings to Mars should emerge by the 2030s. Before then, by 2025, it’s hoped that humans will have been sent to an asteroid. In general, the Space Agency is placing optimum importance upon the eventual goal of human exploration on Mars, however. The fleet of surface rovers and robotic spacecraft that have already been sent are helping experts build an extensive understanding of Martian conditions. That understanding provides a basis for technological advancement on Earth, aiming to protect future astronauts, and eventually enabling them to live on, work, and report from the planet.

#3: Have There Been Other Recent Planetary Discoveries?
The Earth 2.0

2015 has proven an especially successful year in terms of space exploration. In July, the discovery of Kepler-452b, around 1,400 light years away from us, was announced. It’s already been dubbed ‘Earth 2.0’ because of the striking similarities it shares with our own planet, with scientists believing that further research could provide us with valuable knowledge concerning our future. Kepler-452b orbits a host star that’s 1.5 billion years older than our own Sun. It’s thought that the exoplanet is entering into a runaway greenhouse phase of its climate history, the like of which the Earth will inevitably undergo, around a billion years from now.

#2: Who Is Funding These Explorations?
The Agency

NASA has been funding extensive exploration of Mars ever since the Mariner missions in the mid-‘60s, and the search for habitability on the planet is now a primary objective. Twenty-first century efforts began with the $297 million 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiting mission. Twin rovers ‘Spirit’ and ‘Opportunity’ were then launched in 2003, at an initial cost of $820 million. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter followed, costing a further $720 million. Next, the Mars Science Laboratory Mission landed the ‘Curiosity’ rover within a $2.5 billion budget. In the near future, NASA is set to fund the $425 million InSight lander mission in 2016, and conduct a much-anticipated ‘Mars 2020’ mission, despite the agency apparently being faced with enforced budget constraints.

#1: What Does This Mean for Life on Mars?
The Future

It isn’t just NASA who has an interest in Mars exploration; The European Space Agency has had the Mars Express Orbiter recording data for over a decade, and, after launching in 2013, the Indian Space Research Organization became the first ever agency to successfully reach Mars on its first attempt. For some, the ‘Red Planet’ is becoming the basis for a modern-day space race. Evidence of flowing water is only going to inspire further investigation into this unknown. The amount of money being pushed into Mars exploration is huge in large part because any discovery of non-terrestrial life is likely to be one of the biggest advances in scientific history.

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