Abstract
The search for traces of life on Mars is presently focused on robotic in situ analyses (Westall et al., 2000) and the study of Martian meteorites (Brack and Pillinger, 1998). The early histories of Mars and Earth clearly show similarities. Geological observations from data collected by Martian orbiters suggest that liquid water was once stable on the surface of Mars. MappingofMars byMariner9, Viking 1 and2,andbyMars Global Surveyor, revealed channels resembling dry river beds. Odyssey’s gamma ray spectrometer instrument detected hydrogen (Boynton et al., 2002), which suggested the presence of water ice in the upper metre of soil, in a large region surrounding the planet’s south pole, where ice is expected to be stable. The amount of hydrogen detected indicates 20 to 50 percent ice by mass in the lower layer beneath the top-most surface. The ice-rich layer is about 60 cm beneath the surface at latitude 60°S, and approaches 30 cm of the surface at latitude 75°S.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
