Existence of life on Mars

Many groups such as National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA), elongated Musk and Mars-one are planning to bring the first people ever to mars around the year 2040. A return to the moon is anticipated within 5years and at least ESA and China are making moves for moon station. People can go for longer period or even stay permanently if they want to. These lunarists or human Martians will have to eat to survive, especially for longer stays, food will have to be grown at the spot to feed the inhabitants.

STEPS TAKEN BY THE MARTIANS TO KNOW IF LIFE EVER EXISTED ON MARS

In the years 2013, 2015 and 2016, three experiments were carried out to know if it would be possible to grow food on Mars and moon soil simulants provided by NASA. in 2015, the 1st tomatoes, radishes and rye were harvested. In 2016, ten different crops were harvested including the above mentioned crops, but also beans, peas, carrots and potatoes. The vegetables had to be tested because there are heavy metals present in the soil, but luckily, the products turned out to be safe to eat. This brought about the 1st ever "Martian dinner" based on the grown crops.
Now that crops have been successfully grown on this planet, it is high time to take the next step because growing crops is simply not enough. Nutrients needed to be formed in order to pave way for the next generation crops. In regards to this, all non eaten parts of the crops have to be returned to the soil and broken down so nutrients will be released again. What is actually needed is a small sustainable ecosystem that also is able to deal with the inhabitants poop and pee. Earthworm is the crucial part of the ecological chain as this eat the organic matter,bacterial can then break it down further. Worms also dig burrows and by doing so, they aerate the soil and make it possible for water to enter the soil. All these are essential for an abundant crop harvest.
The 1st goal of this experiment is to know if worms would be able to live in the moon and Mars soil simulants. Secondly, is to also know if these worms can perform their job; digest organic matter and mix it with the soil and digging burrows.

The first image source: NASA/JPL-CALTECH/MSSS

However, recent missions to Mars haven't turned up definite proof of life, but some tantalizing possibilities have been uncovered. Water plays the major role when searching for life according to most astrobiologists because it is widely believed that water is life and while it is possible that life could evolve without the precious liquid, it is easier to search for conditions that are known to be optimal, rather than conditions we suppose to be.
In other words, water raises a problem on Mars. The planet is totally barren and dry but some traces of water could be found locked up in the Polar ice caps. The sun's radiation on this planet, Mars, throws more light ray to the surface of planet, adding to the environmental challenges. In the year 2000, NASA'S Mars global surveyor found gullies that water may have flowed across the surface in rivers and streams, and that vast oceans covered the planet.

Second image source: NASA

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