NASA rover Opportunity found Mars had life friendly fresh water

Opportunity, i.e., NASA’s Mars rover, has discovered that Mars had life friendly fresh water in the past. This news was confirmed by the scientists at NASA. The discovery has reinforced the similar discoveries made by Curiosity on the other side of the planet Mars.

Opportunity, i.e., Mars rover, had been observing and analyzing water-bearing rocks at the rim of an ancient impact crater called Endeavour. Instead of the chemical fingerprints of acidic, salty water found at previous sites, Opportunity discovered telltale clays called smectites that form in Ph-neutral water.

The discovery adds to an emerging picture of a planet Mars on which the first billion years or so warmer were warmer than it is today, with pools of fresh water on its surface. Slowly, water activity declined and what did exist became acidic, scientific findings reveal, and then, beginning about 3 billion years ago, Mars dried up.

By studying rocks at various levels, scientists expect to not only have a better idea of how long the planet Mars was able to sustain life, but where conditions might be favourable to perverse key evidence, such as organic carbon.