NASA set to make decision about new home on Mars for upcoming rover mission

SCIENTISTS are set to make a major decision about the search for alien life on Mars as NASA prepares for a critical mission to the Red Planet.

INTERNATIONAL scientists are gathering this week to help make a crucial decision about humanity’s next major mission to Mars — and what we ultimately might find.

NASA will hear from astronomers, researchers and space enthusiasts about where they think the US space agency should focus the landing of its upcoming mission to the Red Planet in its mission to search for life.

Around 300 scientists will make the trip to the fourth and final Mars 2020 workshop in Los Angeles, where scientists will discuss where to land NASA’s new Mars rover in three years’ time.

The Mars 2020 mission is tasked with not only seeking signs of habitable conditions on Mars in the ancient past, but also searching for signs of past microbial life.

“The Mars 2020 landing site could set the stage for Mars exploration for the next decade,” Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator of the science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, said in a statement earlier this week.

“I’m looking forward to the spirited debate and critical input from the science and engineering community. Whichever landing site is ultimately chosen, it may hold the very first batch of Mars soil that humans touch.”

There’s lots to consider with the decision … including engineering constraints, surface elevation and atmosphere, the surface terrain, the climate (it’s nicer around the equator) and, most importantly, what scientists hope to study, find and analyse.

The video below by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory gives a good overview of what goes into the decision.

Researchers have spent years whittling down the potential landing spots with similar workshops since 2014.

“At our first workshop, we started with about 30 candidate landing sites, and after additional orbital imaging and a second landing site workshop, we had a recommendation of eight sites to move forward for further evaluation,” Matt Golombek, co-chair of the Mars Landing Site Steering Committee from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said.

There are now four finalist sites that scientists will consider before deciding on a winner.

“Each site has its own intriguing science potential and knowledgeable advocates,” Mr Golombek said.

Those advocates will take turns during the workshop to argue their case and subsequent deliberations will be included in recommendations sent to NASA headquarters in Washington. The announcement of the chosen landing site is expected to come by the end of the year.

The Mars 2020 mission will launch from Florida in July 2020 and is projected to reach Mars in February 2021.

The rover will conduct geological assessments of its landing site on Mars, determine the habitability of the environment, search for signs of ancient Martian life, and assess natural resources and hazards for future human explorers.