Soil from Mars confirms there was water on the planet

The first samples of Martian soil collected by Perseverance are already allowing scientists to make their first discoveries. Primary analysis of rock fragments confirmsthat in the crater Jezero, where they were collected, "for a long time" there was water - we are talking about tens of thousands or even millions of years. This suggests that microorganisms may have existed in Martian water.

The presence of water in this crater was previously known, but there was not enough information: there was always a chance that the crater could fill with underground water after the fall of the asteroid, after which the water evaporated in a couple of decades. But changes in the rock confirm that the Martian lake has been around for much longer.

Moreover, the samples also contain salts formed when water flowed through this rock. Their crystals could retain the remnants of water and even signs of life that existed in it.

At the moment, the samples are packed in titanium tubes and stored on the rover. He will later drop them so that the next mission can pick them up and deliver them to Earth for more detailed study.

Both of the mentioned Perseverance specimens were obtained from one piece of rock in Jezero. Further collection will continue in the area of ​​South Seita - presumably, the breed in it is more ancient. However, Perseverance will only be able to obtain samples in a few weeks, as all missions will be suspended due to the upcoming solar conjunction.