Continuing Mars exploration offers insights into its history, potential habitability, and life's existence, while cessation may prioritize other scientific pursuits, environmental concerns, and ethical considerations.
Based on the lesson, the channel on Mars is called Jezero Crater, and it is thought to have been formed by a river that flowed into a lake billions of years ago.
Scientists have found evidence of clay minerals, carbonates, and deltas in this region, which are signs of past water activity and possible organic matter. These are some of the conditions that could have supported life on Mars in the past.
Some possible reasons to continue exploring Mars for evidence of past habitability are:
To learn more about the history and evolution of Mars and how it became a dry and cold planet.
To compare and contrast the habitability of Mars with that of Earth and other planets, and to understand the factors that influence life in different environments.
To search for signs of ancient microbial life or biosignatures, and to determine if life ever existed on Mars or if it originated independently on Earth.
To prepare for future human missions to Mars and to assess the potential risks and benefits of living on another planet.
Some possible reasons to stop exploring Mars for evidence of past habitability are:
To focus on other scientific questions and priorities, such as the origin and fate of the universe, the nature of dark matter and dark energy, or the exploration of other celestial bodies.
To reduce the cost and environmental impact of sending spacecraft and rovers to Mars, and to avoid contaminating the planet with Earth microbes or materials.
To respect the intrinsic value and integrity of Mars as a natural and unique world, and to avoid interfering with its existing or potential life forms.
To address the social and ethical issues of exploring and colonizing another planet, such as the ownership and governance of Mars, the rights and responsibilities of humans and non-humans, and the implications for Earth’s security and stability.