Landing site of Mars 2020 rover could preserve signs of ancient life: Study

NASA in its press release anunced location Jezero crater, for landing of its rover for 2020 Mars mission last year. According to a new study published in journal of Geophysical Research Letters, site might preserve signs of ancient life on Red planet. According to NASA Jet propulsion laboratory, rover is expected to land on Jezero crater on February 18, 2021.

Presence of hydrated silica on Red Planet

A new study published in Geophysical Research Letters discussed that Jezero crater might have deposits of hydrated silica, which is a mineral that can preserve biosignatures. study author Jesse Tarnas, a PhD student at Brown University in Rhode Island, US said that y have developed a new technique with help of which y can find minerals which are hard-to-detect, and data for same was taken from rover. y discovered two outcrops of hydrated silica present within Jezero crater. Tarnas furr said that se sights will be exciting for exploration of Red Planet as it is a fact that hydrated silica is kwn for preservation of microfossils and biosignatures. se furr provide insight into ancient life and ir existence. 

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Hydrated silica in delta enhances preservation potential

re is a large delta present in Jezero crater which will be major site of research. According to scientists that delta was formed by ancient rivers. delta will be home to several minerals from rivers that were responsible for its making. minerals of delta along with hydrated silica enhances preservation potential according to study. ack Mustard, Professor at Brown and study co-author said that minerals from lowest layer of delta which will provide signs of ancient life. researchers conducted study using data provided by Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM), an instrument that is deployed above NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

In ar study, re are concentrate carbonate deposits also found on various locations around Mars. 

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