 Mars is one of the most explored worlds in the Solar System from orbiting satellites to landing probes to moving robot rovers. Since the beginning of the use of the telescope in the early 1600's people have been in love, and even afraid of Mars. Through the telescope ancient astronomers could see what appeared to be season changes, and water canals. These things lead people to believe that there was probably life on Mars, even advanced intelligent life.
Is there life on Mars?
The quick answer to this question is no life has been found. In recent years NASA has sent probes, which are satellites that actually land, to explore the planets surface. One important part of the mission of these probes has been to look for life. They take little scoops of dirt, and preform a series of experiments, by looking at the way the dirt reacts in these experiments scientists can determine whether or not there is anything alive in the sample. So far no life has been found on Mars.
Has there ever been life on Mars?
Have you ever visited the Grand Canyon. With its brown, yellow, red, and white cliffs, pillars, and alcoves. What created this amazing scenery. Two relentless tireless forces worked together in its formation over millions of years, these forces were wind and water. The canyon is a monument to the power of the flowing waters of Colorado River. What does any of this have to do with life on Mars? Well as big and beautiful as the Grand Canyon is, there is a canyon even bigger and more beautiful. This canyon is so big that if placed in the United States it would stretch from one side to the other.
Why is that important? Well we must ask ourselves how was this canyon created. Probably by the same two forces that created the Grand Canyon here on Earth, wind and water. Today there is no flowing water on mars, but had there been at one time long ago as suggested by this canyon then it is very possible that life once existed on Mars.
While the experiments looking for life on Mars have returned no positive results, there has been some evidence found which seems to support ancient life on Mars.
Will there ever be life on Mars?
This question can be answered with an almost certain yes. NASA's Mars program is focused on that very issue. Finding ways to get humans to Mars, and then keeping them alive once they arrive. Whether or not humans will live long term on Mars is hard to say, but it appears very likely that we will at least visit.
So what kinds of missions has NASA sent to Mars?
Mariner 4 lifted off on November 28, 1964 It traveled some 325 million miles towards this red sibling planet. The Pictures Mariner 4 sent back were fuzzy, but they were clear enough to shatter current scientific belief. Scientists expected to find an intelligent species with cities, and artificial canals. Instead they found a dead planet that looked much like the Moon.
Mariner 6 began its journey towards Mars on February 24, 1969. Than just a month latter on March 27, 1969 Mariner 7 followed the same path. The two satellites could gather more than 35 times the amount of data that Mariner 4 had gathered. They shoot a total of 199 pictures all together adding a great wealth of knowledge about the planet.
Mars 2 and Mars 3 were sent by Russia. Shortly after this NASA sent Mariner 9. Mariner 8 had failed falling into the Atlantic Ocean shortly after lift off. NASA and Russia worked together closely helping each other obtain the best results. Rather than just flying by the planet like the previous missions this time the crafts would orbit Mars.
Viking 1 and Viking 2 were the next missions sent to Mars. These missions consisted of both an orbiter, and a lander. They were armed with sophisticated equipment which would preform various experiments including searching for life.
Mars Observer was sent in 1992. It had two important goals. First it was going to photograph a mountain on Mars called Cydonia. This mountain looks like a human face, and it was going to prove that it was just a coincidence. Secondly it was going to search for landing spots for future astronauts. It never carried out its missions however, only three days before arriving it broke down, and became a useless piece of space junk.
The Pathfinder Sojourner mission is the most recent mission to study Mars. It consisted of an orbiter and a lander. The lander was unique in that rather than being stuck where ever it landed, part of it could actually move around like a little remote control car. This rover was named Sojourner after NASA conducted a naming contest among school children.
What is the future of Mars?
It is quite possible that your decedents 10,000 years from now will live on Mars their entire lives. They will not need space suits because of a science called Teraforming. Teraforming is when you change a planet to make it Earth like. This may sound like science fiction but it is an actual science, and it is actually possible today. It just takes along time to accomplish the task.
Long before Mars is teraformed it will probably be home to scientific colonies living in enclosed shelters built on the planet. These colonies will set the stage for future expeditions to other planets and moons, and will also begin the first steps of teraforming.
Of course before scientists can live on Mars we have to make the first step of actually visiting. This is not as easy as it sounds. The technological barriers can be broken in a matter of a few years, but going to Mars is very expensive. Lets hope congress will see the importances of future exploration by funding these projects allowing us to fulfill our destiny. |
