NASA plane detects atomic oxygen in Mars' atmosphere for the first time in 40 years
- 8 years ago
WASHINGTON — For the first time in four decades, NASA has found oxygen in Mars' atmosphere.
The last time oxygen was detected in the Martian atmosphere was in the 1970s during NASA's Viking and Mariner missions. This time around, atomic oxygen in the Martian atmosphere was detected by a specialized 747 jetliner that flies in Earth's stratosphere. The jetliner is called the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, or SOFIA.
Using a spectrometer that observes far-infrared waves, the California-based plane found oxygen atoms in one of the upper layers of Mars' atmosphere, known as the mesosphere. According to a NASA statement released about the finding, scientists only detected half the amount of oxygen they expected, probably due to natural variations in Mars' atmosphere.
Atomic oxygen refers to a single oxygen atom and is different from the oxygen in Earth's atmosphere, which involves two oxygen atoms. Atomic oxygen is prevalent in space because ultraviolet radiation is constantly breaking apart oxygen molecules to create atomic oxygen.
Atomic oxygen in Mars' atmosphere fits with scientists' belief that Mars was once warm and wet, with a thicker atmosphere capable of sustaining water and even life. But, over time solar winds are said to have stripped away Mars' atmosphere, causing the planet to become cold and barren.
Studying the atomic oxygen in Mars' atmosphere will help scientists understand how and why the life-sustaining gases that once covered Mars disappeared over the past billions of years.
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The last time oxygen was detected in the Martian atmosphere was in the 1970s during NASA's Viking and Mariner missions. This time around, atomic oxygen in the Martian atmosphere was detected by a specialized 747 jetliner that flies in Earth's stratosphere. The jetliner is called the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, or SOFIA.
Using a spectrometer that observes far-infrared waves, the California-based plane found oxygen atoms in one of the upper layers of Mars' atmosphere, known as the mesosphere. According to a NASA statement released about the finding, scientists only detected half the amount of oxygen they expected, probably due to natural variations in Mars' atmosphere.
Atomic oxygen refers to a single oxygen atom and is different from the oxygen in Earth's atmosphere, which involves two oxygen atoms. Atomic oxygen is prevalent in space because ultraviolet radiation is constantly breaking apart oxygen molecules to create atomic oxygen.
Atomic oxygen in Mars' atmosphere fits with scientists' belief that Mars was once warm and wet, with a thicker atmosphere capable of sustaining water and even life. But, over time solar winds are said to have stripped away Mars' atmosphere, causing the planet to become cold and barren.
Studying the atomic oxygen in Mars' atmosphere will help scientists understand how and why the life-sustaining gases that once covered Mars disappeared over the past billions of years.
-------------------------------------------------------------
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