NASA: Water Once On Mars

According to a press release by NASA today, at some point in the past, water existed on Mars.

Evidence the rover found in a rock outcrop led scientists to the conclusion. Clues from the rocks’ composition, such as the presence of sulfates, and the rocks’ physical appearance, such as niches where crystals grew, helped make the case for a watery history.

“Liquid water once flowed through these rocks. It changed their texture, and it changed their chemistry,” said Dr. Steve Squyres of Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., principal investigator for the science instruments on Opportunity and its twin, Spirit. “We’ve been able to read the tell-tale clues the water left behind, giving us confidence in that conclusion.”

Dr. James Garvin, lead scientist for Mars and lunar exploration at NASA Headquarters, Washington, said, “NASA launched the Mars Exploration Rover mission specifically to check whether at least one part of Mars ever had a persistently wet environment that could possibly have been hospitable to life. Today we have strong evidence for an exciting answer: Yes.”

You can find out more on on the Mars Exploration Rover Mission website, or also in this CNN Article.

I think this is pretty amazing. I would assume that with the proof of water, it can be deductively proven that there was perhaps life on Mars in the past? Even if it was just micro-organisms, it’s still very interesting.