The Mars rover Perseverance has detected a large amount of organic matter. NASA plans todeliver them to the
What is known
The rover was on a mission in the delta of a large riverinside the Lake crater, where there was a lake several billion years ago. Perseverance was able to find four soil samples that contained a large number of organic molecules with carbon. It is assumed that in that place 3.5 billion years ago there could be life.
Scientists say Perseverance was able to detectthe largest concentration of organics for the entire duration of the mission on Mars. In particular, the rover found sulfate deposits in the river delta, which may contain signs of life. They are called biosignatures. However, scientists note that the compounds found on Mars cannot be considered biosignatures with complete certainty, since they could be created during the formation and destruction of rocks.
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Experts will be able to give the final answeronly in the next decade. All samples collected by the Perseverance drone will be delivered to Earth by NASA in 2033. For this, another mission to Mars will be launched jointly with the European Space Agency.
Image: NASA