Perseverance has found a treasure trove of organic matter on Mars - it will be delivered to Earth

The Martian rover Perseverance discovered a large amount of organic matter. NASA plans to bring them to Earth for study.

Here's What We Know

The rover was on a mission to a large river delta inside the Lake Ezero Crater, where there was a lake several billion years ago. Perseverance was able to find four soil samples, which contain a large number of organic molecules with carbon. It is assumed that there could have been life there 3.5 billion years ago.

Scientists say that Perseverance was able to find the largest concentration of organics during the entire mission on Mars. In particular, the rover found sulfate deposits in the river delta that may contain signs of life. They are called biosignatures. However, scientists note that the compounds found on Mars can not be considered with certainty biosignatures, because they may have been created during the formation and destruction of rocks.

Experts will be able to give a definitive answer only in the next decade. All samples collected by the drone Perseverance, NASA plans to deliver to Earth in 2033. To do this will be launched another mission to Mars in conjunction with the European Space Agency.

Source: space

Image: NASA