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NASA Says Mars Could Have Supported Life

March 12, 2013

Scientists at NASA have given details about findings from the "Curiosity" rover that landed on Mars seven months ago and say tests show the planet had all the elements to support life.

Lead scientist for NASA’s Mars exploration program Michael Myer said at the March 12 press conference equipment aboard "Curiosity" determined a soil sample it took had sulfur, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and carbon.

"A fundamental question for this mission is whether Mars could have supported a habitable environment," Meyer said. "From what we know now, the answer is yes."

The 900-kilogram "Curiosity" rover landed in Gale crater on Mars in August, starting a two-year mission to search for signs Mars once supported microbial life.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AP

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/nasa-mars-life-curiosity/24926920.html

Copyright (c) 2013. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.