NASA JPLKonto zweryfikowane

NASA and ESA have worked out a framework for a proposed Mars sample return mission but the details still have to be worked out.

It seems that a lot of the on-the-surface Mars missions are looking for evidence of life on Mars from the past. Out of curiosty why aren't we sending a craft to explore the edge of the polar caps where there might be water in some form and possibly living organisms. Thanks!

Polar caps are extremely cold and there’s less light for solar power. It’s definitely a place that scientists want to go but there are engineering challenges. If we’re going near water ice, there are also planetary protection concerns.