Whether it is a spacecraft that skims over Mars, a satellite orbiting Mars, a lander that lands on the surface of Mars, a rover that travels on the surface of Mars, or a manned spacecraft that will appear or will appear in the future, they are all Mars probes. On October 10th, 1960, the former Soviet Union launched the first probe in history to Mars, but this probe did not even reach the orbit around Mars, making a heroic sacrifice. Two years later, the Soviet Union launched a Mars probe again and named it “Mars I”. “Mars I” successfully entered orbit towards Mars, but lost contact with the ground when it flew 100 million kilometers from the Earth, and its whereabouts have been unknown since then. However, this is a significant improvement compared to two years ago, so this exploration is also seen as the beginning of Mars exploration. Later, the Soviet Union’s “Mars” series failed repeatedly, losing contact with the Earth, and it was not until “Mars 5” was put into orbit, but the working time was also very short. At the end of 1996, the launch of NASA’s “Mars Global Probe” and “Mars Pathfinder” marked the beginning of a new era of Mars exploration internationally. The “Mars Global Probe” has become a satellite of Mars, conducting long-term exploration of the Martian atmosphere and landforms; The Mars Pathfinder spacecraft used a miniature Mars rover to conduct a one-month field trip to the landing site and sent back many photos of the Martian surface landscape. Scientists have determined from the image information sent back that Mars was once a warm and humid planet.In 2002, the US “Odyssey” Mars probe discovered a large amount of hydrogen near the surface of Mars – which is evidence of the presence of underground water ice. On March 5th of the same year, Russian scientists announced that the neutron probe carried on “Odyssey” had found 10 million square kilometers of ice hidden beneath the South Pole of Mars; In addition, a large amount of water ice has also been found on the slopes of Mars’ Olympus Mountains. In May 2008, the US “Phoenix” probe landed at the north pole of Mars. Two months after the probe’s exploration, scientists confirmed that the Phoenix spacecraft discovered water vapor while heating Martian soil samples, providing evidence of water on Mars. On September 29th, NASA announced that the Phoenix Mars probe had made another significant discovery: it also snowed on Mars. Unfortunately, on November 10th, NASA announced that the Phoenix Mars probe had lost contact with the Earth, ending its exploration of Mars for more than five months. On August 6, 2012, the Curiosity Mars rover landed on the surface of Mars, focusing on exploring whether there was or is currently an environment suitable for life on Mars. This is the most sophisticated mobile science laboratory humans have landed on other planets to date. In September 2018, NASA released a “self portrait” sent back by the Curiosity Mars rover on its website. The photos record the harsh and dusty scene on Mars. In addition, India and Japan have also launched probes to Mars, but there has been no significant technological progress.
Mars, the fourth planet from the sun, has been a topic of fascination for humans for centuries. In recent years, there has been a surge of interest in exploring Mars, with several countries launching missions to study the planet. In this article, we will explore why humans are interested in exploring Mars, the current state of Mars exploration, and the data collected so far.
Why Explore Mars?Mars is a unique planet that provides scientists with a wealth of information about the formation and evolution of our solar system. By studying Mars, scientists can learn more about the geological processes that shaped the planet and the potential for life beyond Earth. Mars also has a similar climate and geological history to Earth, making it an ideal location for studying the potential for habitability on other planets.
Human Expansion.As humans continue to explore and expand our reach beyond Earth, Mars represents a potential location for human colonization. With its proximity to Earth and potential for habitability, Mars could serve as a stepping stone for further exploration and colonization of the solar system.
Economic Opportunities.Mars also represents a potential source of economic opportunities, with the potential for resource extraction and space tourism. Mars has abundant resources, including water, minerals, and metals, which could be used to support human exploration and development.
Current State of Mars Exploration
Mars Missions.Several countries have launched missions to explore Mars, including the United States, China, and the United Arab Emirates. These missions include both orbiters and landers, which collect data on the planet’s atmosphere, geology, and potential for habitability.
Mars Rovers.In addition to orbiters and landers, several Mars rovers have been sent to explore the planet’s surface. The most recent rover, NASA’s Perseverance, landed on Mars in February 2021 and is designed to search for signs of ancient microbial life.
Mars Sample Return Missions.NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) are planning a series of Mars sample return missions, which will collect samples of Martian soil and rock and return them to Earth for analysis. These missions will provide scientists with a wealth of information about the planet’s geology and potential for habitability.
Data Collected from Mars Exploration
Mars Atmosphere.Mars has a thin atmosphere composed primarily of carbon dioxide, with traces of nitrogen and argon. Mars missions have collected data on the planet’s atmosphere, including its composition, temperature, and pressure.
Mars Geology.Mars has a diverse geological history, with evidence of ancient rivers, lakes, and oceans. Mars missions have collected data on the planet’s geology, including its surface features, mineral composition, and potential for geological activity.
Mars Potential for Habitability.Mars missions have also collected data on the planet’s potential for habitability, including the presence of water and organic molecules. These data suggest that Mars may have had a habitable environment in the past and could potentially support microbial life.
In conclusion, Mars exploration represents a unique opportunity for scientific research, human expansion, and economic opportunities. With several countries launching missions to study the planet, we are gaining a wealth of information about Mars’ atmosphere, geology, and potential for habitability. As we continue to explore and study Mars, we may uncover new insights into the formation and evolution of our solar system and the potential for life beyond Earth.
