The ESA’s Mars Express Satellite Photographs Ancient Network of Rivers on Mars

The European Space Agency has used their Mars Express satellite to capture some photos that demonstrate the marks an ancient network of rivers left on the Red Planet’s surface

The valleys formed as they would here on our planet, caused by a steady flow of water sculpting its way through the landscape.

However, it is unknown where that water originated from. As a result of a lack of knowledge of Mars’s past climate, scientists do not know if the water was groundwater, precipitation, melting glaciers, or something we don’t even know about yet.

Martian valleys have been formed in the same way the did on Earth — with strong streams of water flowing through the land. Photo credits: ESA

Presently, Mars’ surface has no liquid water, but it does have an abundance of similar ex-water features that were found in recent years. This suggests that Mars once had a much more wet and warm climate in the past.

These findings present more questions about Mars’ past atmosphere, and scientists want to understand if the planet was ever suitable to host life.

Next year the ESA in conjunction with Roscomos will deploy the ExoMars mission. The mission’s primary objective is to try and answer the question, did life ever exist on Mars?

For details visit Asgardia.Space