NASA's Perseverance rover on Mars finds a rock containing spotted features which are possible fossilized records of microbes, though non-biological processes cannot yet be ruled out. 2024-07-25
NASA's "Perseverance" finds evidence that an ancient river delta on Mars held a crater-filling lake billions of years ago. 2023-12-12
NASA's "Perseverance" rover successfully synthesizes breathable oxygen while on the surface of Mars. This demonstrates the feasibility of locally producing oxygen for human life support and propellant production. 2021-04-22
The rover "Perseverance" successfully lands on Mars as part of the Mars 2020 mission. 2021-02-18
Scientists in a paper published to "Nature Astronomy" confirm the existence of four underground saltwater lakes spread out over 75000 sqkm near Mars' south pole. Depending on their salt content, these lakes could be potential holders of life. 2020-09-28
The Mars 2020 mission carrying the "Perseverance" rover and Mars helicopter "Ingenuity" successfully launches atop an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral SLC-41. 2020-07-30
NASA announces the discovery of preserved organic matter in an ancient lake bed on Mars by its Curiosity rover. It has not been determined if the matter was potentially related to past life on Mars or not. 2018-06-7
NASA holds a media conference to announce new discoveries about Mars made by the Curiosity rover. It was found that the planet could have once supported life. 2013-03-12
NASA's "Curiosity" rover has detected several simple carbon-based organic compounds on Mars, but it remains unclear whether they were formed via Earthly contamination or whether they contain only elements indigenous to the planet. 2012-12-3
NASA debunks rumors of new evidence of life on Mars, but its Curiosity rover continues to make many smaller discoveries. 2012-11-30