Context
Seismic data from NASA’s InSight lander suggests a vast reservoir of liquid water exists deep within Mars’ crust, potentially enough to cover the planet with a global ocean.
About Liquid Water Deep Beneath Mars’ Surface
- Water Location:
- Approximately 11.5 to 20 km below the Martian surface.
- Within fractured igneous rocks.
- The depths are warm enough for water to remain liquid, potentially creating conditions suitable for microbial life.
- Scientists used:
- seismic wave speed
- gravity measurements, and
- rock physics models
- The study suggests that much of Mars’ ancient surface water, which disappeared over 3 billion years ago, may have seeped into the crust rather than escaping into space.
- Accessing this deep reservoir is challenging due to the difficulties of drilling to such depths.
- Researchers suggest targeting geologically active areas like Cerberus Fossae, where water may surface, as a more practical approach.
About NASA’s InSight Mission:
- Launched in 2018, robotic lander focused on studying Mars’ seismic activity, core, and crustto explore the planet’s geological evolution.
- The mission uncovered evidence of a liquid magma ocean in Mars’ past.
- InSight was equipped with two main instruments:
- A seismometer to detect and analyze Marsquakes.
- A heat flow probe to measure heat emanating from Mars’ interior.
Source:
The Hindu
Previous Year Question
The experiment will employ a trio of spacecraft flying in formation in the shape of an equilateral triangle that has sides one million kilometres long, with lasers shining between the craft.” The experiment in question refers to:
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2020 Prelims]
(a) Voyager-2
(b) New Horizons
(c) LISA Pathfinder
(d) Evolved LISA
Answer: (d)
