Strong evidence of the presence of water and ice on the red planet’s surface have been collected in the past decade, as photographed by cameras on various spacecraft and through NASA’s rover Opportunity. In February 2009, the robotic craft Phoenix was able to collect strange liquid that appeared, merged and dripped on its leg as it scoured over the Martian surface for over a month. This was considered the first physical proof that modern Mars hosts liquid water. Suspicions on ancient Mars’ topography had pointed to water as the main factor. In 2004, the rover Opportunity was able to find minerals and blueberry-shaped rocks that suggested the presence of ancient groundwater in Endurance, a Martian crater. New evidence from Opportunity presents scientific basis confirming suspicions that water is responsible for shaping the planet’s crater regions. NASA’s rover has spotted underground water formations the size of Oklahoma hidden beneath shifting sand dunes. Rover project team leader Steven Squyres stated that these findings confirm that water shaped regions in the Martian landscape instead of small, isolated oases because sightings of these formations were miles apart from each other. Despite early fears that the aging rover Opportunity might not make it out safely over the Victoria crater, scientists declared the mission a success. Keep up with the latest in Science news on the BZ News Network.

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