TechBlog

In Arizona State University camera orbiting Mars has uncovered salt deposits on the cratered Martian surface, suggesting water was once widespread on the Red Planet.

Scientists say the more than 200 deposits likely formed through water evaporation and could be ideal places to look for past life because of salt’s preservative qualities.

The findings are being published Friday in Science magazine.

Scientists have long sought to establish whether life once existed on Mars. Two golf-car-sized rovers are roaming the planet’s equator, and the Phoenix Mars Mission led by the University of Arizona is scheduled to touch down May 25 and examine the icy polar regions.

The salt deposits are too far from the rovers to be investigated. The deposits range from nearly a half-mile to 10 square miles in size and could date back nearly 4 million years.

ASU Professor Phil Christensen designed the high-powered camera, which uses thermal infrared technology to detect minerals on the planet’s surface. The camera is attached to the Mars Odyssey orbiter. Christensen has three instruments on four craft roving or orbiting Mars, the most of any scientist.