火星探索的新视角（英语）

Mars exploration has slowed recently, raising questions about its future direction. Notably, the 2022 and 2024 launch windows-ideal times for Mars missions due to favorable planetary alignment-went unused. While some focus has shifted toward the Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission, this project has faced delays, cost overruns, and concerns that it is monopolizing planetary exploration funding. Meanwhile, China's ambitious plans for Mars sample retrieval add geopolitical competition to the mix.
Mars research has matured, making it harder for new missions to uncover groundbreaking discoveries. For example, debates persist over ancient Martian oceans, with new data from China's Zhurong rover supporting their existence. However, increasingly sophisticated instruments are needed to answer such questions definitively, posing challenges for resource allocation.
Innovative approaches could reinvigorate Mars exploration. JianXun Shen and colleagues suggest "following the serpentine," a mineral associated with life-supporting conditions like water, minerals, and energy sources. Similarly, Dirk Schulze-Makuch proposes "following the salt," as salts could preserve traces of life in Mars' harsh environment. These ideas expand on NASA's earlier strategy of "following the water" and could guide future missions.
Mars exploration is far from stagnant. By embracing new perspectives and focusing on targeted missions, space agencies can tackle lingering mysteries and ensure continued progress in understanding the red planet.
Source: Nature Astronomy, "Fresh perspectives for Mars exploration," Vol. 8, 2024.