Artist’s impression of a primitive ocean on Mars, which some researchers suggested harbored more water than the Arctic Ocean on Earth. (Most of that water was later lost to space.) (Image credit: NASA/GSFC)
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Recent Mars missions have revealed that the Red Planet contains far more water than previously thought, preserved primarily as underground ice, ancient buried river deltas, and deep subterranean water reservoirs. [1, 2, 3]
Latest Discoveries & News
- Underground Oceans: Using seismic data from the NASA InSight lander, scientists identified a massive reservoir of liquid water deep within the fractured rock of the Martian crust. The volume is immense; if released, it would cover the entire planet in an ocean 1 to 2 kilometers deep. However, it resides at depths of 11.5 to 20 kilometers, making it inaccessible with current technology. [1]
- Ancient Rivers & Lakes: The NASA Perseverance rover discovered buried remains of an ancient river delta up to 35 meters below the surface of Jezero Crater. This provides some of the deepest and oldest evidence of flowing water on the Martian surface. [1]
- Subsurface Groundwater Habitats: Research on ancient sand dunes in Gale Crater indicates that underground water continued to flow long after surface lakes dried up. This suggests that subterranean, sheltered environments may have sustained microbial life for far longer than initially believed. [1]
- Current Salty Flows: Scientists continue to monitor locations where super-salty water (brines) may currently flow on the Martian surface. The high salt content lowers the freezing point, allowing the water to exist as a liquid for short periods. [1]
- Water & Space Exploration: NASA is actively testing mobile wastewater treatment systems (capable of processing human waste into drinkable water and plant nutrients) in preparation for future crewed missions to Mars. [1]
For a look at the data being gathered by NASA’s rovers investigating these ancient, water-carved landscapes:
New Evidence of Water on Mars Thanks to NASA Curiosity … Museum of Science YouTube · Feb 23, 2023