Context
The quest to discover alien life on Mars continues, but conclusive proof remains absent. NASA’s Perseverance Rover, which landed in 2021, is collecting rock and soil samples stored in sealed titanium containers for eventual return to Earth.
Recent Findings
- Studies suggest that Mars once had conditions (water, essential minerals) that could have supported microbial life.
- No direct evidence of life has been found yet.
- Mars Sample Return Mission aims to bring collected samples to Earth by 2040 for detailed study.
Challenges
- Technical hurdles in returning samples intact.
- Very high costs of deep-space missions.
- Risk of Earth-based contamination complicating analysis.
Global Cooperation & Competition
- U.S. (NASA) and China (CNSA) are both active on Mars exploration.
- Mars has become a field of scientific rivalry and strategic competition in technology.
Prelims Pointers
- Perseverance Rover (2021): NASA’s Mars rover for collecting and storing samples.
- Mars Sample Return Mission: Target year 2040 for sample return.
- Titanium Containers: Used to preserve Martian samples.