NASA’s Viking Mission: Destroyed Life on Mars?
The Viking mission, one of America’s major space programs in the 1970s, set out to answer the question of whether life exists on Mars. However, its studies may have brought unexpected results, said astronomer Schulze-Makuch.
According to him, the research methods used by the Viking landers, particularly the injection of excessive amounts of water, may have destroyed the subterranean life on Mars.
The Viking Mission: A Brief Overview
In 1975, NASA launched two Viking spacecraft:
Viking 1
Viking 2
They landed on the surface of Mars in 1976 and collected soil samples. The main objective of the research is to confirm whether life exists on Mars.
The Viking mission provided the first evidence that microbes might have existed on Mars. However, this has not been conclusively proven.
Schulz-Machuchin explains why
When experiments were carried out by the Viking landers, the amount of water under investigation could have affected life on the Martian surface:
High water usage
Microbes on Mars may have lifestyles adapted to dry terrestrial environments.
But the planet’s microbial systems may have been wiped out as the Viking landers pumped liquid water into the soil.
Chemical composition of soil
Perchlorate salts in Martian soil, when combined with water, could cause chemical changes that could be hostile to life.
Rethinking Space Exploration
While past studies have suggested that water has the potential to support life, these data create the basis for an environment such as Mars, where this becomes problematic.
Changes in prospective studies
Based on Schulz-Machuch’s recommendations, NASA and other space agencies should test new strategies:
Hygroscopic salts
Instead of liquid water, salts that absorb moisture from the air should be used.
Collection of environmental data
Probes should be tailored to suit the Martian interior environment.
Safe research methods
Develop new technologies for processing soil samples and create the same environment for experiments.
Life on Mars: Still Possible?
According to Schulz-Makuchin, the possibility of life on Mars has not yet been completely ruled out. However, the methods and assumptions used to identify microbes must be completely reexamined.
Conclusion
Although the success of NASA’s Viking mission and the probes that followed were major milestones in human space exploration, some major errors may have resulted in the destruction of life on Mars.
With this new information, the methods of handling space exploration have to be changed very carefully. This will ensure that future missions are carried out without harming the planet’s natural systems.
