Why Mars is cold and dry? Although recent research has indicated that ancient Mars, perhaps, was not wet and warm, many scientists still believe that the once Red planet had a denser atmosphere that can support liquid water on the surface. If so, then on Mars formed conditions that could exist microorganisms.



But for some reason most of the Martian atmosphere long ago gone into space, and its current balance too thin, so that the water could be on the surface in a stable condition. Experts do not know exactly how and why it happened. One of the hypotheses indicates the so-called sputtering, when atoms are knocked out from the atmosphere of energetic particles.

Since Mars does not have a strong internal magnetic field, the atmosphere can be destroyed as a result of interaction with the solar wind, and new footage of space flight Center NASA them. Goddard is devoted to this. In addition, the conditions of the early Solar system encouraged dispersion, i.e. the loss of the Mars atmosphere was caused by a complex of reasons.

Maybe soon we more or less certainly will know what happened to the Martian atmosphere. About it should tell spacecraft MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) with its eight sensors, which will be the first probe intended for direct study the atmosphere of Mars. Besides, this is the first project, specifically designed to assess past and current output Martian gases into space, primarily carbon dioxide.

The launch window is installed from 18 November to 7 December 2013. To orbit the red planet MAVEN will be released in mid-September 2014 and will stay there for at least one earth year (and about half of Mars).