Watch NASA Science Live: Perseverance Mars Rover & the Search for Ancient Life

NASA Science Live is a web series that explores the latest scientific discoveries and advancements in space exploration. In this particular episode, the focus is on the Perseverance Mars Rover and the search for ancient life on the Red Planet. The episode begins with the team discussing the Perseverance Rover, which was launched on July 30, 2020, and landed on Mars on February 18, 2021. The rover's mission is to explore the Jezero Crater, a site that is believed to have once been a lake and could potentially contain evidence of past microbial life. The team talks about the rover's various instruments and technologies, including its SuperCam, which is capable of analyzing the chemical composition of rocks and soil from a distance, and its Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment (MOXIE), which is designed to produce oxygen from the Martian atmosphere.

Next, the team discusses the search for ancient life on Mars. They explain that while there is no definitive proof that life ever existed on the planet, there are many lines of evidence that suggest it is possible. For example, Mars was once much warmer and wetter than it is today, and scientists have found evidence of organic molecules on the planet's surface. The team also discusses the potential implications of finding evidence of past life on Mars, both for our understanding of the origins of life in the solar system and for the possibility of future human exploration of the planet.

Throughout the episode, the team provides updates on the Perseverance Rover's progress and shares stunning images and video footage from the mission. They also answer questions from viewers about the rover and the search for ancient life on Mars.

One of the most interesting segments of the episode is a discussion of the Mars Sample Return mission, which is designed to collect rock and soil samples from Mars and bring them back to Earth for analysis. The team explains that while the Perseverance Rover is capable of conducting many types of analyses on Mars, some questions can only be answered by studying Martian samples in Earth-based laboratories. They discuss the challenges and complexities of a sample return mission, including the need for a Mars ascent vehicle to launch the samples into orbit and a retrieval mission to bring them back to Earth.

Overall, NASA Science Live: Perseverance Mars Rover & the Search for Ancient Life is a fascinating and engaging exploration of one of the most exciting missions in current space exploration. The team's enthusiasm and passion for the subject matter are infectious, and viewers will come away with an even greater appreciation for the incredible technological achievements and scientific discoveries happening at NASA every day.