The Zhuzhong rover, part of the Chinese Tianwen-1 mission, has found evidence that an ancient ocean could exist on Mars. This is reported by CGTN, a partner of the TV BRICS network, with reference to the study.
It is clarified that the Zhuzhong landed on the Utopia plain in 2021 and worked for a year. In a recent study, scientists analyzed images and data from the rover, as well as the results of measurements carried out using probes.
Based on studying the surface of the plain, the researchers concluded that about 3.68 billion years ago, a flood occurred in this region and an ocean formed, after which its surface froze until it disappeared about 3.42 billion years ago.
The researchers’ special attention was attracted by the pitted cones, probably formed by mud volcanoes, polygonal depressions and erosion channels. These geological formations may indicate the presence of liquid water under the surface. In addition, Zhuzhong discovered sedimentary rocks and layered structures that are characteristic of sediments in the reservoir.
According to one of the researchers, planetary scientist Bo Wu, the data from the rover not only provides additional evidence to support the theory of the existence of an ancient ocean on Mars, but also increases the likelihood that microbial life could once have existed there.
Source https://tvbrics.com/news/kitayskiy-marsokhod-obnaruzhil-svidetelstva-sushchestvovaniya-drevnego-okeana-na-marse/
