Exploration of Mars-recent results and challenges

by Dr Sandra Siljeström (RISE, Sweden)

Wednesday 4 Feb 2026, 13:30 → 14:30 Europe/Stockholm

FC61 (AlbaNova Main Building)

Mars today is a cold and dry desert seemingly devoid of life. However, in the past, about 4 billion years ago, the red planet was a very different place with thicker atmosphere, flowing water on its surface and thus a much better potential to harbour life. The first mission to Mars to search for life, the Viking mission, in 1975, found neither traces of extant or extinct life nor organic molecules on the surface of Mars which was disappointing. However, lately the exploration of Mars by NASA Curiosity and Perseverance rovers have shown promising results, including the identification of at least two past habitable environments on Mars in Gale and Jezero craters and the find of the building blocks of life such as organic molecules.

In this seminar I will present some of the latest results and challenges from the exploration of Mars, including the find of a potential biosignatures in Jezero crater by the Perseverance rover. I will also discuss future plans for exploration of Mars such as the ESA Rosalind Franklin rover and potential Mars sample return.