Discovering Mars
Historical Milestones
Mars, often referred to as the Red Planet, is the fourth planet from the Sun and has a long history of observations by humans.
Named after the Roman god of war, Mars has been the subject of fascination and exploration for centuries.
In 1976, NASA successfully landed the first spacecraft on Mars, known as Viking 1, which was followed by Viking 2.
These missions provided valuable information about Mars’ surface and atmosphere.
Exploration Rovers
In the early 2000s, NASA launched a series of rovers to explore the Martian surface.
The first of these was the Opportunity rover, which began its mission in 2004 and lasted for 15 years.
It was joined by the larger Curiosity rover in 2012.
These rovers conducted numerous experiments and sent back valuable data to scientists on Earth.
More recently, the Perseverance rover arrived on Mars in February 2021 and is actively exploring and sending back new information from the planet’s surface.
- Opportunity (2004 – 2019): Launched by NASA, its mission lasted well beyond the original plan of 90 Martian days or sols, for a total of 15 years of exploration. Opportunity discovered evidence of past water activity on Mars.
- Curiosity (2012 – present): Also launched by NASA, Curiosity is still actively exploring Mars and has found evidence of a habitable environment in the past. It carries a variety of scientific instruments and has drilled into rocks to sample them.
- Perseverance (2021 – present): The latest rover from NASA, Perseverance has the added ability to collect rock samples for future return to Earth. Its main focus is to search for signs of ancient microbial life and study the planet’s geology.
| Rover | Launch Year | Agency | Mission Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opportunity | 2004 | NASA | 15 years |
| Curiosity | 2012 | NASA | Ongoing |
| Perseverance | 2021 | NASA | Ongoing |
In addition to rovers, there are also orbiters exploring Mars from above, such as NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) and the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Mars Express.
These spacecraft have been vital for capturing images and gathering data about Mars’ surface and atmosphere.
Despite being closest to Earth’s other neighboring planet, Venus, Mars has been the primary focus of exploration efforts due to its more hospitable environment and the potential for discovering signs of past or present life in its diverse landscapes.
Geography and Environment
Unique Surface Features
Mars, also known as the Red Planet, is the fourth planet from the Sun and has some distinctive geographical features.
Its orange-red appearance can be attributed to the iron(III) oxide dust covering its surface.
Mars hosts the largest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons, which is nearly three times the height of Mount Everest.
The massive canyon system, Valles Marineris, stretches across the Martian equator, dwarfing the Grand Canyon.
Atmosphere and Climate
The Martian atmosphere is composed primarily of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and argon.
It is much thinner than Earth’s atmosphere, which affects the planet’s overall climate.
Mars experiences seasons due to its axial tilt, similar to Earth.
However, these seasons are longer given Mars’ slower orbit around the Sun.
Mars is known for its dust storms, which can engulf the entire planet and last for weeks, causing significant temperature fluctuations.
Water and Possibility of Life
Mars has water in the form of ice concentrated at its polar regions.
This discovery has sparked interest in the potential existence of life on Mars.
In the past, the planet may have had liquid water, warmer temperatures, and a denser atmosphere, which further supports the possibility of ancient life forms.
The search for past or present microbial life on Mars continues with ongoing scientific missions and research.