Mars InSight lander reveals crust could have stores of liquid water

The recent analysis of data from the Mars InSight lander suggests that the presence of liquid water in the Martian crust is the most plausible explanation for the observed findings. This conclusion, led by Vashan Wright, a geophysicist at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography, provides the strongest evidence yet that liquid water exists on Mars, in addition to the known frozen water at the planet's poles. The possibility of liquid water on Mars has long intrigued scientists, as water is a key ingredient for habitability and could have significant implications for the search for extraterrestrial life.

Presence of liquid water most probable explanation for data collected by Mars InSight lander

The study, which appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, was supported by the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, the National Science Foundation, and the US Office of Naval Research. In addition to Wright, the research team included Matthias Morzfeld from Scripps Oceanography and Michael Manga from the University of California, Berkeley. These scientists have spent years analyzing the data collected by the InSight lander during its four-year mission, which ended in 2022.

The InSight lander gathered crucial information about the Martian subsurface, particularly focusing on the speed of Marsquake waves. These waves provide insights into the composition of the materials beneath the planet's surface. By feeding this data into a model informed by a mathematical theory of rock physics, Wright and his colleagues determined that liquid water in the crust is the most likely explanation for the observed wave speeds.

Cutaway view of Mars InSight lander and data it collected - Credit: James Tuttle Keane and Aaron Rodriquez

Researchers infer that stores of water must exist in planet’s crust

Understanding the Martian water cycle is essential for comprehending the planet's climate evolution, surface changes, and internal structure. Wright emphasized the importance of identifying the location and quantity of water on Mars as a starting point for these studies. The potential presence of liquid water also raises questions about the planet's habitability and the possibility of life, making this discovery a significant step forward in planetary science.

The researchers caution that while the data strongly suggest a water-saturated mid-crust, there is still much to learn about the mineralogy and composition of Mars' crust. Further geophysical measurements and improved constraints on the planet's crustal composition will be necessary to confirm these findings and deepen our understanding of the Martian subsurface.

This study represents a significant advancement in the ongoing exploration of Mars, offering new insights into the planet's geology and potential habitability. The presence of liquid water beneath the surface could have profound implications for future missions to Mars, particularly those focused on the search for life. As scientists continue to analyze the data collected by InSight, they hope to uncover even more information about the planet's mysterious interior and its potential to support life.

In summary, the analysis of InSight data provides compelling evidence for the presence of liquid water in the Martian crust, marking an important milestone in our understanding of the Red Planet. The research highlights the value of continued exploration and study of Mars, as scientists seek to unravel the mysteries of this intriguing world.

Mars InSight as seen in "selfie" taken by lander, Dec. 6, 2018 - Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech