Chinese scientists have discovered that it is very likely that there was water on the surface of Mars, much more recently than previously thought.
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As Space.com reports, based on hydrated minerals discovered by China's Zhurong rover, signs of water have been detected in samples dating back 700 million years. The rover's findings were published in a paper in the journal Science Advances .
The Red Planet, now cold and dry, was previously thought to have been wet about 3 billion years ago during its hesperian period. A team of researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, however, believes that there was surface water activity during the current Amazonian period.
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The hydrated materials were discovered using shortwave infrared spectral data taken by the Zhurong rover at the Utopia Planitia landing site , suggesting the presence of "substantial" liquid, either from rising groundwater or melting ice beneath the surface.
"In situ evidence of aquatic activity detected at the Zhurong landing site suggests a more active hydrosphere on Mars than previously thought," the study said.
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Standing 6 feet tall and weighing about 550 pounds, Zhurong is the sixth rover to reach Mars. During its more than 350 days on Mars, the rover has traveled about 1.24 miles and analyzed a range of features. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) expanded mission , further exploring the coastal region of Utopia Planitia, a vast plain located in the largest known impact basin in the Solar System.
The presence and easy access to water on Mars would be very good news for people hoping to visit the fourth planet from the Sun, a move that SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell expects to happen by 2030.
