Mars
Our pursuit of Mars stands as a testament to the power of human curiosity and the timeless draw of knowledge. It represents our collective drive to answer profound questions about life beyond Earth.
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Plus it's the only planet we know of (so far!) inhabited entirely by robots.
Mars' Harsh Climate and Radiation
With an extremely thin atmosphere, very little protection is afforded against solar radiation. Temperatures can also plunge as low as -62 degrees Celsius at the equator and much colder near the poles. These conditions make it difficult for life as we know it to survive on the surface, likely pushing any microbial life deep underground where it is harder to detect.
Image from: NASA
Limited Access to Water
Liquid water on Mars is scarce and likely exists mainly as ice or in small underground reservoirs. Accessing these water sources to search for life is challenging and needs advanced drilling and probing technology.
Image from: ESA
Complex Geological History
Mars’ geological history includes volcanic activity and impacts, burying potential biosignatures under layers of rock and sediment. Finding preserved traces of life in such terrain demands precise, advanced analysis tools.
Image from: NASA/JPL CalTech