Recent studies in the scientific journal Nature have revealed some intriguing insights about the inner structure of Mars. These studies, which drew on data from three years of seismic activity on the Red Planet – including two events caused by meteorite impacts – suggest that Mars’s iron core is enveloped by a molten silicate layer. The research conducted utilized an instrument aboard NASA’s InSight Mars Lander known as the Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure (SEIS).
Mars’s Core Composition: A Reevaluation
In 2021, measurements taken with SEIS from the InSight project pointed towards a large, but low-density core of liquid iron and lighter elements such as sulphur, carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen within Mars. However, these two new studies challenge this understanding, discovering a 150 km thick layer of near-molten silicate rock surrounding the Martian core. This indicates Mars’s core is denser than previously suspected.
Misinterpretation of the Core surface
Researchers have brought to light a past misinterpretation where the top of the silicate layer was incorrectly identified as the core’s surface. This reinterpretation reveals that Mars’s core is more compact than prior estimates, aligning better with existing knowledge of chemical abundances on Mars. This suggests that Mars may have experienced turbulence within its interior following the planet’s formation and temperatures reaching at least 2,000 Kelvin, contrasting the previously supposed calm heat-shedding process into interplanetary space.
The Impact on Mars’s Geological History
These findings have significant implications for our understanding of Mars’s geological history, suggesting a more dynamic and energetic early phase than previously thought. The existence of a molten silicate layer implies a robust and turbulent interior, which may have influenced the geological evolution of Mars, impacting the distribution of elements within the planet.
About InSight Mars Lander
InSight Mars Lander, an abbreviation for Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport, was launched in 2018 for a two-year mission. Stationed at Elysium Planitia, a flat-smooth plain just north of the equator ideal for studying the deep Martian interior, its objective is to uncover the mysteries of the Red Planet’s core using seismic waves. It aims to answer critical questions around rocky planet formations during the early phase of the solar system.
The Various Mars Missions
Several Mars missions have taken place over the years, undertaken by different countries and space agencies. NASA has initiated various missions including lander (Mars Insight), two rovers (Curiosity and Perseverance), and three orbiters (Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Mars Odyssey, MAVEN). Other important missions include the ExoMars rover (2021) by the European Space Agency, China’s Tianwen-1 (2021), UAE’s Hope Mars Mission (2021) marking the country’s first-ever interplanetary mission, India’s Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) or Mangalyaan (2013), and Mars 2 and Mars 3 (1971) by the Soviet Union.
Related UPSC Civil Services Examination Questions
In the 2020 UPSC Civil Services Examination an experiment involving spacecraft flying in an equilateral triangle formation with lasers shining between each craft was referenced, which pertains to the Evolved Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission.
In the 2016 exam, it was noted that The Mars Orbiter Mission, also known as Mangalyaan, propelled by ISRO, made India the only country to be successful in making spacecraft orbit Mars on its very first attempt.
