1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,040
Picture this, you're on Mars,

2
00:00:03,040 --> 00:00:05,400
standing at the edge of Jezero Crater.

3
00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:08,120
Red dust swirling all around you.

4
00:00:08,120 --> 00:00:11,340
You look out at this seemingly barren landscape,

5
00:00:11,340 --> 00:00:13,760
but then something catches your eye.

6
00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:16,760
Almost like a familiar pattern in the rocks.

7
00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:19,400
Could it be the remnants of a dried up riverbed?

8
00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:23,480
It's like a whisper from Mars' distant past.

9
00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:26,520
A hint that liquid water flowed there once.

10
00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:28,080
That's incredible.

11
00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:29,920
And that's just the start.

12
00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:32,880
We're about to uncover evidence of a hidden ocean,

13
00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:35,400
a sulfur surprise, and even a rock

14
00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:37,800
that might hold signs of ancient Martian life.

15
00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:39,240
Wow.

16
00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:42,760
Welcome to Cosmos in a Pod to Space and Astronomy series.

17
00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:44,680
Don't forget to like, comment, share, and subscribe

18
00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:47,260
to keep up with our latest cosmic adventures.

19
00:00:47,260 --> 00:00:50,020
So are you ready to dive into these Martian mysteries?

20
00:00:50,020 --> 00:00:51,740
Because these discoveries are changing

21
00:00:51,740 --> 00:00:54,160
everything we thought we knew about the red planet.

22
00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:57,200
It's a truly exciting time for Mars exploration.

23
00:00:57,200 --> 00:00:59,240
What's fascinating is that these findings

24
00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:02,520
challenge the idea of Mars as a dead, static world.

25
00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:04,800
We're starting to see a much more dynamic

26
00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:07,920
and, dare I say, hopeful picture emerging.

27
00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:08,960
Okay, let's unpack this,

28
00:01:08,960 --> 00:01:11,440
starting with that life-hinting rock.

29
00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:14,000
You know, the one that has the scientists buzzing?

30
00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:16,440
It was discovered by our trusty Perseverance rover,

31
00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:17,520
nicknamed Percy, right?

32
00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:18,420
That's right.

33
00:01:18,420 --> 00:01:21,640
Percy's been diligently exploring Jezero Crater,

34
00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:26,080
an ancient lake bed over 3.5 billion years old.

35
00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:28,600
Just think about that time scale for a moment.

36
00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:31,480
It's almost impossible for us to comprehend,

37
00:01:31,480 --> 00:01:34,800
and it's in this incredibly ancient environment

38
00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:37,640
that Percy made this remarkable discovery.

39
00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:38,800
So tell us about this rock.

40
00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:39,880
What makes it so special?

41
00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:42,360
Well, this rock, nicknamed Shava Falls,

42
00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:44,040
really stands out from all the others

43
00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:45,160
Percy has encountered.

44
00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:46,920
It's packed with features that are,

45
00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:49,240
to put it mildly, intriguing.

46
00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:52,440
First of all, it's rich in carbon-based organic molecules,

47
00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:54,320
which are the building blocks of life as we know it.

48
00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:56,560
Okay, that's already pretty mind-blowing.

49
00:01:56,560 --> 00:01:57,400
There's more, right?

50
00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:00,480
Yes, Shava Falls also has these veins of calcium sulfate

51
00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:01,320
running through it,

52
00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:03,240
suggesting that water once flowed through it.

53
00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:04,920
And here's where it gets really interesting.

54
00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:06,840
The rock has these tiny spots,

55
00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:08,560
just a few millimeters across each

56
00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:10,400
with a black ring around it.

57
00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:13,720
These spots are rich in iron and phosphate.

58
00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:16,100
And what's fascinating is that similar features

59
00:02:16,100 --> 00:02:18,860
have been linked to fossilized microbes here on Earth.

60
00:02:18,860 --> 00:02:21,740
Wow, so this rock could hold evidence

61
00:02:21,740 --> 00:02:23,540
of ancient Martian life.

62
00:02:23,540 --> 00:02:24,920
That's a game changer.

63
00:02:24,920 --> 00:02:26,020
It's certainly a possibility.

64
00:02:26,020 --> 00:02:27,840
Of course, we have to be cautious and consider

65
00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:29,440
non-biological processes

66
00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:31,280
that might've created these features,

67
00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:33,440
but the potential implications are huge.

68
00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:34,560
I can imagine.

69
00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:35,640
So what's the next step?

70
00:02:35,640 --> 00:02:37,440
How do we confirm whether these features

71
00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:39,960
are truly signs of ancient life?

72
00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:42,960
That's where NASA's planned Mars sample return mission

73
00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:43,840
comes in.

74
00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:46,320
Perseverance is collecting samples from Shava Falls

75
00:02:46,320 --> 00:02:47,480
and other promising sites,

76
00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:49,680
storing them in these sealed containers.

77
00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:51,680
The plan is to bring these samples back to Earth

78
00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:53,600
where scientists can analyze them

79
00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:55,400
using really advanced equipment.

80
00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:57,720
I imagine the secrets those rocks could reveal

81
00:02:57,720 --> 00:02:59,800
once we have them in Earth-based labs.

82
00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:01,200
I can't wait to see what they find.

83
00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:03,120
It's gonna be a truly groundbreaking moment

84
00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:04,640
in space exploration.

85
00:03:04,640 --> 00:03:08,400
Okay, so we have this potentially life-bearing rock.

86
00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:11,600
What other surprises has Mars thrown our way recently?

87
00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:13,720
Well, let's shift our focus to Curiosity,

88
00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:16,640
another one of our intrepid Martian rovers.

89
00:03:16,640 --> 00:03:18,660
Curiosity has been exploring Gale Crater

90
00:03:18,660 --> 00:03:20,400
and Mount Sharp since 2012,

91
00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:22,920
and it stumbled upon a remarkable discovery

92
00:03:22,920 --> 00:03:24,280
completely by accident.

93
00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:27,080
An accidental discovery, tell us more.

94
00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:30,560
So as Curiosity was navigating this rocky terrain,

95
00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:33,400
one of its wheels happened to crack open a rock

96
00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:34,860
and what spilled out?

97
00:03:34,860 --> 00:03:36,280
Pure sulfur.

98
00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:38,360
This was a completely unexpected find.

99
00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:39,320
Pure sulfur.

100
00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:40,640
I have to admit, I didn't have that

101
00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:42,300
on my Martian bingo card.

102
00:03:42,300 --> 00:03:44,720
Why is this discovery so significant?

103
00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:46,840
Pure sulfur is a relatively rare find,

104
00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:48,040
and it's often associated

105
00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:49,840
with specific geological processes

106
00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:52,640
like volcanic activity or hydrothermal systems.

107
00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:55,080
So could this sulfur be a sign that ancient Mars

108
00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:56,600
was volcanically active?

109
00:03:56,600 --> 00:03:58,520
It's definitely a strong possibility.

110
00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:00,440
You see, the presence of sulfur could indicate

111
00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:02,320
that ancient Martian lakes or seas

112
00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:04,440
contain sulfur-rich minerals.

113
00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:06,120
Over billions of years, evaporation

114
00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:08,500
or other chemical processes might have concentrated

115
00:04:08,500 --> 00:04:10,640
the sulfur leaving behind these deposits.

116
00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:12,640
It makes you wonder what other secrets are hidden

117
00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:13,880
beneath the Martian surface

118
00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:15,760
just waiting to be discovered right now.

119
00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:18,580
Absolutely, it's a testament to the power of exploration

120
00:04:18,580 --> 00:04:21,300
and the fact that even seemingly insignificant events

121
00:04:21,300 --> 00:04:24,440
like a rover wheel cracking a rock

122
00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:27,080
can lead to incredible scientific breakthroughs.

123
00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:28,600
And this brings us to perhaps

124
00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:31,160
the most mind-blowing discovery of all.

125
00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:32,320
Are you ready for this?

126
00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:34,320
Mars has a hidden ocean.

127
00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:35,360
It's true.

128
00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:37,760
This discovery made by NASA's InSight lander

129
00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:40,820
has sent shockwaves through the scientific community.

130
00:04:40,820 --> 00:04:43,640
InSight detected massive reservoirs of liquid water

131
00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:45,680
buried deep beneath the Martian surface.

132
00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:47,600
Wait, are we talking about a small underground lake

133
00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:48,740
or something much bigger?

134
00:04:48,740 --> 00:04:50,640
We're talking about a colossal reservoir

135
00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:52,440
potentially covering the entire planet

136
00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:54,040
to a depth of a mile.

137
00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:55,440
And it's estimated to be located

138
00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:58,080
between seven to 13 miles underground.

139
00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:00,280
It really challenges our preconceived notions

140
00:05:00,280 --> 00:05:02,000
of what a dead planet can be like.

141
00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:03,320
This is incredible.

142
00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:04,920
But for years, scientists have been saying

143
00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:08,320
that Mars lost most of its water billions of years ago

144
00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:10,200
when its atmosphere thinned.

145
00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:12,180
So where did this hidden ocean come from?

146
00:05:12,180 --> 00:05:13,120
That's a great question.

147
00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:16,460
And it's one that scientists are actively trying to answer.

148
00:05:16,460 --> 00:05:18,760
The prevailing theory is that much of the water

149
00:05:18,760 --> 00:05:21,720
didn't escape into space as previously thought.

150
00:05:21,720 --> 00:05:23,680
Instead, it seems a significant amount

151
00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:25,240
was trapped below the surface,

152
00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:27,680
forming this vast hidden ocean.

153
00:05:27,680 --> 00:05:30,020
It's like Mars is holding onto a secret,

154
00:05:30,020 --> 00:05:32,360
a remnant of a wetter, more dynamic past.

155
00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:33,480
Exactly.

156
00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:35,040
And this discovery raises

157
00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:37,600
all sorts of tantalizing questions.

158
00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:39,320
Could this hidden ocean be a haven

159
00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:41,960
for microbial life even today?

160
00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:43,760
And what does this mean for the future

161
00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:46,520
of human exploration of Mars?

162
00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:48,720
Makes you wonder, what else is hiding under that red dust?

163
00:05:48,720 --> 00:05:50,920
It's like we've been handed this cosmic mystery novel

164
00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:53,040
and we're just starting to figure out the plot.

165
00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:55,840
A novel with a hidden ocean is a main character.

166
00:05:55,840 --> 00:05:57,040
I love that analogy.

167
00:05:57,040 --> 00:05:59,000
Okay, but speaking of this hidden ocean,

168
00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:00,480
it's hard to grasp the idea

169
00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:03,720
of like a planet-wide body of water underground.

170
00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:05,680
What does it tell us about Mars' past?

171
00:06:05,680 --> 00:06:07,640
It really suggests that Mars was once

172
00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:10,340
a much different place than what we see today.

173
00:06:10,340 --> 00:06:13,640
Billions of years ago, it likely had a thicker atmosphere,

174
00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:16,400
maybe even oceans and rivers on its surface.

175
00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:18,640
We see evidence of this in the ancient riverbeds

176
00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:20,360
and lakebeds like Jezero Crater

177
00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:22,360
where Perseverance is exploring.

178
00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:24,520
Right, and the prevailing theory is that Mars lost

179
00:06:24,520 --> 00:06:25,720
its atmosphere over time

180
00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:27,640
because of a weakening magnetic field.

181
00:06:27,640 --> 00:06:28,520
Exactly.

182
00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:31,040
The solar wind, which is a constant stream

183
00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:33,000
of charged particles from the sun,

184
00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:35,360
gradually stripped away Mars' atmosphere.

185
00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:37,040
And without that protective layer,

186
00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:40,680
the surface water either froze or evaporated into space.

187
00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:43,000
So this hidden ocean is like a time capsule.

188
00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:43,840
Yeah.

189
00:06:43,840 --> 00:06:46,320
Preserving a piece of Mars' ancient past

190
00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:48,280
when it might've been more Earth-like.

191
00:06:48,280 --> 00:06:49,560
That's a great way to put it.

192
00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:51,960
This ocean could hold clues about the conditions

193
00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:55,240
on early Mars and potentially even evidence of past life.

194
00:06:55,240 --> 00:06:56,440
Which leads to the big question,

195
00:06:56,440 --> 00:06:59,360
could there be life in this hidden ocean?

196
00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:01,680
It's so far underground, is that even possible?

197
00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:03,880
It's a question that has scientists so excited.

198
00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:05,440
Here on Earth, we find life

199
00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:08,000
in some of the most extreme environments.

200
00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:11,280
Deep sea hydrothermal vents, boiling hot springs,

201
00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:13,800
even inside solid rock.

202
00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:15,720
Life finds a way.

203
00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:19,040
So if life can exist in those extreme environments on Earth,

204
00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:20,840
why not in a hidden Martian ocean?

205
00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:21,840
Exactly.

206
00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:24,240
And the key ingredient for life as we know it

207
00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:25,760
is liquid water.

208
00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:28,400
This hidden ocean, even miles below the surface,

209
00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:32,040
could provide what's needed for microbial life to exist.

210
00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:33,320
It's like an underground oasis

211
00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:36,080
hidden away from the harsh conditions on the surface.

212
00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:36,920
This is amazing.

213
00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:37,880
Pretty remarkable, isn't it?

214
00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:40,440
And if we found evidence of life in this Martian ocean,

215
00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:42,120
it would completely change our understanding

216
00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:42,960
of the universe.

217
00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:44,200
It wouldn't just be another discovery,

218
00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:45,480
it would change everything.

219
00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:48,400
It would mean that life isn't just this unique thing on Earth,

220
00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:50,840
that it might be common all over the cosmos.

221
00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:52,120
OK, let's switch gears for a second

222
00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:54,280
and talk about those other two discoveries.

223
00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:57,360
The life-hinting rock and that surprising sulfur find,

224
00:07:57,360 --> 00:07:59,880
how do they fit into the bigger picture of Mars?

225
00:07:59,880 --> 00:08:03,040
They add important details to this idea of a Mars that

226
00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:05,920
was once much more dynamic and potentially habitable

227
00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:07,960
than we ever imagined.

228
00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:11,840
The rock found by Perseverance with its carbon-based organic

229
00:08:11,840 --> 00:08:14,400
molecules and those intriguing spots that

230
00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:16,760
look like fossilized microbes gives us

231
00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:19,480
a peek into what might have existed on the Martian surface

232
00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:20,760
billions of years ago.

233
00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:22,160
It's like a message from the past.

234
00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:22,640
Yeah.

235
00:08:22,640 --> 00:08:25,200
A faint echo of a time when Mars might have been

236
00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:27,160
teeming with microbial life.

237
00:08:27,160 --> 00:08:29,120
And the sulfur discovery, even though it

238
00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:32,240
was kind of accidental, tells us about the chemical processes

239
00:08:32,240 --> 00:08:33,800
that shaped Mars.

240
00:08:33,800 --> 00:08:37,040
The presence of sulfur, especially in its pure form,

241
00:08:37,040 --> 00:08:40,440
often points to past volcanic activity or hydrothermal

242
00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:41,080
systems.

243
00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:42,160
And those are both environments where

244
00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:43,560
life could possibly thrive.

245
00:08:43,560 --> 00:08:44,240
Exactly.

246
00:08:44,240 --> 00:08:47,080
So when you combine all these discoveries, the hidden ocean,

247
00:08:47,080 --> 00:08:49,360
the life-hinting rock, the sulfur,

248
00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:52,400
it starts to paint a much more exciting and dynamic picture

249
00:08:52,400 --> 00:08:53,000
of Mars.

250
00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:54,680
It's like Mars is saying, hey, there's

251
00:08:54,680 --> 00:08:55,880
more to me than you think.

252
00:08:55,880 --> 00:08:56,880
I love that.

253
00:08:56,880 --> 00:08:58,520
It reminds us that we should never

254
00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:00,600
underestimate the power of exploration

255
00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:02,240
and keeping an open mind when it comes

256
00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:03,680
to the mysteries of the universe.

257
00:09:03,680 --> 00:09:04,600
You know, it's funny.

258
00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:07,160
We think of Mars as this alien world.

259
00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:09,400
But these discoveries show us it might have been more

260
00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:10,720
like Earth than we thought.

261
00:09:10,720 --> 00:09:12,440
That's so true.

262
00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:15,880
And it makes future exploration even more exciting.

263
00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:17,600
Just imagine.

264
00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:20,000
We could be close to answering one of humanity's biggest

265
00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:21,280
questions.

266
00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:22,560
Are we alone?

267
00:09:22,560 --> 00:09:23,400
Right.

268
00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:25,560
These discoveries have brought back the dream

269
00:09:25,560 --> 00:09:27,440
of sending people to Mars.

270
00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:30,640
But before we pack our bags for a Martian vacation,

271
00:09:30,640 --> 00:09:33,120
what are the next steps in exploring this planet?

272
00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:35,120
Well, one of the most important missions coming up

273
00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:37,920
is the Mars sample return mission perseverance

274
00:09:37,920 --> 00:09:40,480
is already collecting those rock and soil samples,

275
00:09:40,480 --> 00:09:42,720
carefully putting them into sealed containers

276
00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:44,000
for a trip back to Earth.

277
00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:45,760
And once those samples are back on Earth,

278
00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:48,120
scientists can analyze them with much better equipment

279
00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:49,760
than anything we can send to Mars.

280
00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:50,360
Exactly.

281
00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:52,680
We're talking about advanced labs, powerful microscopes.

282
00:09:52,680 --> 00:09:53,800
The whole works.

283
00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:56,280
We could have definite proof of past Martian life

284
00:09:56,280 --> 00:09:57,120
in the next 10 years.

285
00:09:57,120 --> 00:09:58,120
That's incredible.

286
00:09:58,120 --> 00:09:59,880
I can't imagine being a scientist working

287
00:09:59,880 --> 00:10:00,960
on those samples.

288
00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:03,240
It would be like holding a piece of Martian history.

289
00:10:03,240 --> 00:10:05,440
It would be a historic moment.

290
00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:07,680
And beyond that mission, there's another exciting one

291
00:10:07,680 --> 00:10:10,160
in development, the Mars ice mapper.

292
00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:11,680
OK, tell me more about that.

293
00:10:11,680 --> 00:10:13,760
What's the Mars ice mapper all about?

294
00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:16,960
This mission will use radar to map out water ice deposits

295
00:10:16,960 --> 00:10:18,560
under the Martian surface.

296
00:10:18,560 --> 00:10:21,640
This information will be crucial for future human missions.

297
00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:24,040
So it's not just scientific curiosity anymore.

298
00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:26,720
We're actually getting ready for humans to go to Mars.

299
00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:27,560
Absolutely.

300
00:10:27,560 --> 00:10:30,680
Knowing where the water ice is is essential for long missions.

301
00:10:30,680 --> 00:10:32,480
Water ice can be used for drinking water,

302
00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:35,760
but also for making oxygen and even rocket fuel.

303
00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:37,520
So we're not talking about just a quick visit.

304
00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:40,480
We're talking about building something sustainable on Mars.

305
00:10:40,480 --> 00:10:42,080
That's the long term plan.

306
00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:44,080
These robotic missions are paving the way,

307
00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:45,760
giving us the knowledge and resources

308
00:10:45,760 --> 00:10:47,920
we need to make it happen.

309
00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:50,480
It's amazing to think we might see humans walking

310
00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:53,760
on Mars in our lifetime, doing research exploring

311
00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:56,080
those ancient riverbeds, maybe even

312
00:10:56,080 --> 00:10:57,520
standing by that hidden ocean.

313
00:10:57,520 --> 00:10:59,240
What a huge accomplishment that would be.

314
00:10:59,240 --> 00:11:01,760
It would be a true testament to human ingenuity

315
00:11:01,760 --> 00:11:04,200
and our drive to explore the unknown.

316
00:11:04,200 --> 00:11:06,120
And who knows what we might find when we get there?

317
00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:09,320
Maybe we'll find evidence of an old Martian civilization

318
00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:11,760
or a cave full of strange life.

319
00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:13,720
Or maybe we'll make a discovery that changes

320
00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:15,400
how we understand the universe.

321
00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:17,240
The possibilities are endless.

322
00:11:17,240 --> 00:11:20,080
That's what makes space exploration so captivating.

323
00:11:20,080 --> 00:11:21,880
It's about pushing the limits of what we know,

324
00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:23,800
searching for answers to big questions,

325
00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:26,280
and remembering there's so much more to discover.

326
00:11:26,280 --> 00:11:28,080
Well, on that note of cosmic wonder,

327
00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:30,720
it's time to wrap up our Martian adventure.

328
00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:32,600
But before we go, I want to encourage

329
00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:34,280
you to keep exploring with us.

330
00:11:34,280 --> 00:11:36,120
Keep that curiosity alive.

331
00:11:36,120 --> 00:11:38,040
Be sure to follow Cosmos in a Pod,

332
00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:39,880
wherever you get your podcasts.

333
00:11:39,880 --> 00:11:41,400
And subscribe to our YouTube channel

334
00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:43,400
for more amazing space content.

335
00:11:43,400 --> 00:11:44,840
And who knows, maybe one day we'll

336
00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:47,280
be talking about those first human footprints on Mars.

337
00:11:47,280 --> 00:11:48,560
Keep looking up, everyone.

338
00:11:48,560 --> 00:11:50,360
The universe is full of wonders.

339
00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:53,440
This is Cosmos in a Pod, signing off.

340
00:11:53,440 --> 00:12:05,000
Until next time.