"We're seeing deeper into Mars than ever before," stated a NASA scientist, highlighting a new era of Martian exploration. Since 2006, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) has been revolutionizing our understanding of the Red Planet. Innovative maneuvers, including large roll rotations, are now allowing scientists to peer deep beneath the Martian surface.
These groundbreaking techniques, detailed in the Planetary Science Journal, involve the MRO performing significant roll rotations. The Shallow Radar (SHARAD) instrument, crucial for subsurface detection, has seen a dramatic improvement. By increasing the roll angle to 120 degrees, the radar signal strength improved significantly, allowing for unprecedented depth penetration.
The results are astonishing. In the Medusae Fossae region, SHARAD detected a basalt layer 800 meters below the surface. Furthermore, in the Ultimi Scopuli region, approximately 1,500 meters of ice was identified. These discoveries offer invaluable insights into Mars' geological history and potential water reserves, paving the way for future exploration and the search for life.