Just a leaky faucet's worth of water
Just how much water are we talking about here? According to the scientists, it’s just a small amount—comparable to the amount that drips from your faucet if you don’t close it tightly. “We think this is a very small amount of water—maybe just enough to wet the top layer of the surface of Mars,” they said. “Think of this as a ‘seep’ not a flow.”
At present, NASA’s rovers can’t approach the regions where they suspect water is present because they’re considered “special regions.” To enter the area, extra precautions are required to prevent contamination by Earth life.
Preventing contamination by Earth life
Scientists are keenly aware of the possibility of microscopic alien life, and are very careful to make sure that Earth life doesn't contaminate and overrun the potentially fragile Martian ecosystem.
For one thing, rovers need additional sterilization before they can come closer. Scientists also take samples of microbes on the spacecraft before launch for comparison with any future discoveries.
Other Mars-related projects NASA has in mind are InSight in 2016—a lander designed to detect Mars-quakes—and a rover in 2020.
The AMA took place from 2-3 p.m. ET (2-3 a.m. Tuesday in the Philippines). Scientists who participated were Rich Zurek, Chief Scientist of NASA’s Mars Program Office and Project Scientist at the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter project; Leslie K. Tamppari, Deputy Project Scientist, MRO; Stephanie L. Smith, NASA-JPL social media team; and Sasha E. Samonchina, NASA-JPL social media team. — TJD, GMA News
source: gmanetwork.com
