Research finds huge underground water reservoir on Mars

New research using data from NASA’s InSight mission has discovered a vast underground reservoir on Mars that could fill oceans on the planet’s surface. The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reveals that water trapped in tiny cracks and pores in the Martian crust could cover the planet to a depth of 1 mile (1.6 kilometers).

The InSight mission operated from 2018 to 2022 and used a seismometer to probe the interior of Mars. These data indicate that reservoir is located between 7 and 12 miles (11.5 and 20 kilometers) below the Martian surface. Such a discovery would provide a deeper insight into the geologic history of Mars and open up new possibilities for exploration. The data suggests that if future missions could access this water, it could reveal crucial details about the planet’s past climate and its potential to support life.

Mars has long fascinated scientists because of its history of water. Evidence from previous missions has pointed to ancient lakes, riverbeds and deltas, suggesting that Mars was once a much wetter environment. However, the planet lost its atmosphere more than 3 billion years ago, leading to a significant decrease in surface water. While some of the water is trapped as ice at the polar caps, that doesn’t account for all of the planet’s “lost” water. The new findings suggest that much of it may have filtered into the Martian crust and is now stored in this deep reservoir.

The challenge of accessing this water is significant. Drilling to such depths on Mars would require significant resources and advanced technology. Nevertheless, this discovery opens up a new avenue for research and exploration. The presence of liquid water at these depths raises intriguing questions about the potential of Mars to support life, past or present. Understanding this reservoir could help scientists learn more about the Martian water cycle and its implications for the planet’s habitability.

Overall, the discovery of this underground water reservoir marks a significant advance in our understanding of Mars. As we continue to explore the planet, this discovery will play a critical role in shaping future missions and research into the history and potential of Mars.