Five facts about Mars: exploring the Red Planet

SSPDaily has prepared 5 facts about Mars. Learn about the origin, satellites, and composition of this Red Planet.

Phobos and Deimos

One of the most interesting aspects of Mars is its satellite system consisting of two moons: Phobos and Deimos. Their existence was discovered by the American astronomer Asaph Hall in 1877.

These Martian satellites are much smaller than such celestial bodies as our Moon. The diameter of Phobos, the largest of them, is more than 100 times smaller than the diameter of the Moon.

Origin

The origin of Mars dates back to about 4.5 billion years ago. When the entire Solar System, including Mars itself, was formed. This process arose from a collapsing cloud of interstellar gas and dust as a result of mutual gravitational influence.

Composition

Structurally, Mars consists of separate layers: core, mantle, and crust. The core consists of iron, nickel, and sulfur and is surrounded by a silicate mantle. Above it is the crust, which consists of iron, magnesium, aluminum, calcium, and potassium.

Basalts

The surface of Mars is dominated by basalts, which give it its characteristic red hue due to the predominance of iron oxide in the soil. Surprisingly similar to the Earth, Mars has valleys, deserts, mountains, and even a polar ice cushion. Ancient river deltas discovered on Mars indicate a water-rich past.

Atmosphere

More than 95% of Mars' atmosphere is carbon dioxide, which is significantly different from the Earth's nitrogen- and oxygen-rich composition. Free breathing on Mars is impossible for humans because the atmospheric conditions are not suitable.

In April 2021, NASA's Perseverance rover managed to extract a small amount of oxygen from the Martian atmosphere. This technology is promising for future missions aimed at obtaining the oxygen needed for the possible colonization of Mars by humans.