Mars Rover Exploration and Findings

The search for extraterrestrial life focuses on finding liquid water, a key element for life on Earth. Mars, once a wet planet, now appears as a dry desert. Rovers equipped with advanced tools analyze Mars' surface to uncover its past. Opportunity rover discovered hematite spheres, sulfur-rich minerals, and petrified ripples, indicating a once wet environment. These findings suggest Mars had conditions favorable for life, sparking excitement and further exploration.

What is considered a fundamental necessity for life on Earth and the search for extraterrestrial life?

• Oxygen

• Liquid water

• Sunlight

• Carbon dioxide

What features on Mars suggest the past presence of water?

• Craters

• Mountain ranges

• River channels and deltas

• Volcanoes

What tools do the rovers use to analyze the Martian surface?

• Lasers and radars

• Drills and hammers

• Telescopes and microscopes

• Cameras and spectrometers

What mineral did Opportunity find that forms in water-soaked rocks on Earth?

• Hematite

• Calcite

• Quartz

• Gypsum

What type of environment do sulfur-rich minerals indicate?

• Wet and acidic

• Dry and arid

• Hot and volcanic

• Cold and icy

What evidence did Opportunity find that suggests flowing water once existed on Mars?

• Dust storms

• Volcanic rocks

• Petrified ripples

• Ice caps

What does the presence of salty, acidic water on Mars suggest about its past?

• It was covered in ice

• It was too hot for life

• It could have supported microbial life

• It was always dry

How did scientists feel during the Opportunity rover's mission?

• Bored and uninterested

• Excited and sleep-deprived

• Confused and lost

• Calm and relaxed

How long did it take for Opportunity to accomplish its initial goals?

• 6 months

• 1 month

• 1 year

• 3 months

What was the ultimate outcome of the Opportunity rover's mission?

• It malfunctioned and stopped working

• It discovered new life forms

• It confirmed the presence of ancient water

• It failed to find any evidence of water