Mars has always been one of the most scrutinized planets in the Solar System, especially when it comes to the possibility of life beyond Earth. Since the first missions began exploring the Red Planet, one of the main questions has been whether life could have existed or still exists on Mars. Over the decades, missions like Viking, Curiosity, and Perseverance have searched for signs of life, opening up new insights into the planet’s past.

The presence of water was one of the key factors that led scientists to believe that Mars could have supported life. Signs of ancient rivers, lakes, and water-related geological formations have been found on the surface of Mars. This suggests that the red planet once had a much warmer and wetter environment, with conditions that could have supported microbial life.

Viking Missions and Experiments in Search for Life

In the 1970s, NASA’s Viking 1 and Viking 2 missions became the first probes to land on Mars and conduct experiments to search for signs of life. The Vikings were equipped with advanced biological experiments to search for microbial growth in Martian soil samples. Although initial experiments showed positive reactions, subsequent results failed to confirm the existence of microorganisms.

However, the Viking missions provided the first data about the surface and atmosphere of Mars, laying the foundation for future missions. Studies from Viking also helped scientists better understand the planet’s climate and geology, leading to new hypotheses about the possibility of life underground, where conditions may be more stable.

Curiosity And The Discovery Of Ancient Water

In 2012, the Curiosity rover successfully landed on the surface of Mars as part of its Mars Science Laboratory mission. Curiosity is equipped with advanced scientific instruments, including a drill, a chemical analyzer, and a high-resolution camera. One of Curiosity’s key findings was evidence of water-based minerals, suggesting that water existed on the planet’s surface billions of years ago.

In particular, Curiosity discovered the presence of organic compounds in rock samples in Gale Crater, opening up new hopes for the possibility of microbial life in the past. These organic compounds do not directly prove the existence of life, but are important factors in the development of life.

Perseverance and the Search for Modern Life

Following the success of Curiosity, the Perseverance rover was launched to Mars in 2020 and successfully landed in 2021. Perseverance’s mission is not only to explore the geology of Mars, but also to search for signs of ancient microbial life. Perseverance focuses on collecting and analyzing rock samples from the Jezero Crater, which was once an ancient lake.

Perseverance has found evidence of a long-term water environment in Jezero Crater, a positive sign for the possibility of life on the planet. The robot is also equipped with advanced technology to store samples, which will be sent back to Earth on future missions for more detailed analysis.

Discovery of Methane and Organic Compounds

One of the most important recent discoveries is the presence of methane in the Martian atmosphere. Methane can be produced by biological or geochemical processes, so its detection has raised hopes for the possibility of microbial life beneath the planet’s surface. Robots like Curiosity and Perseverance have measured fluctuations in methane levels, indicating processes taking place beneath the surface of Mars.

In addition, organic compounds such as hydrocarbons have also been detected in Martian rock samples. Although these compounds may have been formed by non-biological processes, they are still an important part of the study of potential life on this planet.

The Future of Searching for Life on Mars

In the future, missions like Mars Sample Return, which is expected to collect and return samples from Mars to Earth, will give scientists the opportunity to examine evidence of life more closely. Meanwhile, technologies like MOXIE, which is being tested on Perseverance and can produce oxygen from CO2, will play a key role in supporting future manned missions to Mars.

Although there is still no conclusive evidence of life on Mars, recent discoveries have opened up many new possibilities and questions about the planet’s past and present. The search for life on Mars continues, and with advances in technology and science, humanity is getting closer to answering whether there is life beyond Earth.