Water on Mars

NASA's groundbreaking discovery of liquid water on Mars revolutionized our understanding of the Red Planet. Evidence from orbiters and rovers confirmed seasonal brine flows (recurring slope lineae) and subsurface ice deposits, suggesting water may exist in liquid form under Martian soil. These findings, including hydrated salts detected by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, dramatically boost the possibility of microbial life and future human colonization. Water's presence also hints at Mars' ancient habitable past, when rivers and lakes may have shaped its surface. Ongoing missions continue to analyze water distribution, crucial for unlocking Mars' secrets and preparing for crewed expeditions.