Water on Mars: How the discovery reshapes exploration of the planet

September 30, 2015 11:27 AM

An image from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter show how the appearance of dark markings on Martian slope changes with the seasons. The marks, called recurrent slope linea, extend down slopes during warmer months and fade away during cooler months.
NASA| JPL-Caltech | University of Arizona

Liquid water is flowing on Mars. That was NASA's announcement on Monday which followed decades of study and mountains of data collected by Earthling-made spacecraft on and around the red planet.

Ancient Marts had lakes, rivers and even oceans, but this latest analysis of present-day photos from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter only confirms some damp spots on an otherwise dry surface.

Still, liquid water is understood to be a necessary ingredient for life...and evidence of life on Mars, now or in the past, would be among the most significant discoveries in all of science.

One of the men leading this search Jim Watzin. He's NASA's Program Director for Mars Exploration. He joined MPR News with Tom Weber to talk about the future of the Mars research.

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