Curiosity Rover Helps Scientists Find Potential Source Of Water On Mars

NASA's Curiosity rover might have just discovered a potential source of water on Mars. According to a new study, scientists were studying older images clicked by Curiosity to learn about fractures that are found across Martian surface.

When scientists gathered samples of rocks from these fractures, they didn't know what to make of it. Now, they believe that these halo-like fractures could be opal deposits.

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Water on Mars?

Earlier, similar deposits were discovered on Mars by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Back in 2008, these deposits were believed to be silica. But now it appears that these opal deposits could become a source of water for future astronauts on the Red Planet.

NASA

This also points to an important factor about Mars. Scientists think that these opal deposits mean that water was present on the surface of Mars a lot more recently than previously believed.

Also read: How Scientists Recorded Sounds Of A Dust Devil On Mars For The First Time

These opal deposits are widespread across Mars, and scientists believe these could provide a water source for future human settlers on Mars. Some veins could contain several litres of water depending on their size, BGR reported.

NASA will receive samples from Mars through its return mission soon. Then, scientists will analyse these deposits in a lab on Earth.

Also read: You Can Hear The Mars Meteoroid Crash That Revealed Chunks Of Ice On The Red Planet

NASA

As countries become increasingly interested in space, many missions to the Moon and Mars are being spun into action. Space agencies, both private and state-owned, hope to set up human colonies on the Moon as well as on Mars to turn humanity into a spacefaring race.

What do you think about the potential of life on Mars? Let us know in the comments below. For more in the world of technology and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com.

References

Gabriel, T. S. J., Hardgrove, C., Achilles, C. N., Rampe, E. B., Rapin, W. N., Nowicki, S., Czarnecki, S., Thompson, L., Nikiforov, S., Litvak, M., Mitrofanov, I., Lisov, D., Frydenvang, J., Yen, A., Wiens, R. C., Treiman, A., & McAdam, A. (2022). On an Extensive Late Hydrologic Event in Gale Crater as Indicated by Water©\Rich Fracture Halos. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 127(12). https://doi.org/10.1029/2020je006600

Hawkins, J. (2023, January 7). Curiosity rover may have found a water source on Mars. BGR. https://bgr.com/science/curiosity-rover-may-have-found-a-water-source-on-mars/