Do you think there is water on mars? For the first time ever, scientists have discovered water there. This amazing discovery was made by NASA. Photos were taken of salt molecules that were filled with water, also known as perchlorates. These were found on the surface from cameras on space stations in orbit above Mars. Scientists confirm that there has to have been liquid water recently present to produce the hydrated salt. By recently present, the scientists probably meant a matter of days or even weeks. Even though scientists already knew that there are large amounts of frozen ice in the poles of Mars, there was no concrete evidence that they could be defrosted. There are even water gullies that could have been filled with water but there was still no evidence.
Where is the water today?
Large deposits of water are trapped within the ice caps in the poles within the planet. The seasons affect the poles. The average temperature in the winter can get up to minus 195 degrees F. A summer day on Mars may get up to 70 degrees F. But at night, the temperature can plummet to about minus 100 degrees F! Each summer the caps become smaller, but each winter when it gets colder the caps actually increase in size. Sometimes they can grow halfway to the equator! Did you know that if all the ice melted they could cover the entire Martian surface with about 18 feet of water? Sometimes in the summer, RSL or recurring slope lineae, creates dark streaks down Martian mountains. Some chunks of ice have also been found in random places throughout the Martian globe.
The new rover
Since the new discoveries have been found, a new rover has been prepared to go in 2020. John M. Grunsfeld, had first started the talk about a new rover to go to Mars. It would be about the size of a car, and heavily based on curiosity’s design. Lots of probes, cameras, transmitters, and other machines will be incorporated into it's body. The thing that made it so special was that the rover’s is designed not searching for life, but for water. Unfortunately, to go to the RSL area, the rover will pass through potentially dangerous areas. The rover has a possibility that it could carry some bacteria onto Mars and contaminate the surface and the potential habitat. There are only two rovers, the two Viking landers, that have been baked hot enough to kill earth microbes. Since the technology needs to survive, the design will have to be extremely complicated, and will cost a large amount of money. Life might exists on Mars and the new rover, one way or another, will find out.
Bibliography
Chang, Kenneth E., Ms. "Mars Shows Signs of Having Flowing Water, Possible Niches for Life, NASA Says." The New York Times. The New York Times, 28 Sept. 2015. Web. 27 Oct. 2015.
Redd, Nola Taylor, Ms. "Water on Mars." Space.com/water-mars. Nola Taylor Redd, n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2015.
Sharp, Tim L., Mr. "What Is the Temperature of Mars?" Space.com/water-mars. Space.com, 03 Aug. 2012. Web. 08 Nov. 2015.
