Exploration of Mars: The study of the Red Planet by spacecraft

To discover the possibilities for past or present life on Mars, NASA's Mars Exploration Program is currently following an exploration strategy known as "Seek Signs of Life."

The Niagara Falls of Mars: Various researchers are often pre-occupied with the quest for flowing water on Mars (Image: NASA)

Decoding a Geological Message: A close-up image from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter of a recent 150-meter diameter impact crater near Amazonis Mensa and Medusae Fossae is another great example of geologic complexity of Mars. (Image: NASA)

Monitoring Sand Sheets and Dunes NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) captured this crater featuring sand dunes and sand sheets on its floor (Image: NASA)

A South Polar Pit or an Impact Crater? This observation from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter show it is late summer in the Southern hemisphere, so the Sun is low in the sky and subtle topography is accentuated in orbital images. (Image: NASA)

Erosion of the Edge of the South Polar Layered Deposits: This image from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter shows small ripples, about 10 meters apart, located in Her Desher Vallis. (Image: NASA)

An Ancient Valley Network: Most of the oldest terrains on Mars have eroded into branching valleys. (Image: NASA)

NASA’s Mars 2020 Rover Artist’s Concept: This illustration depicts NASA's Mars 2020 rover on the surface of Mars. The mission, targeted for launch in July/August 2020, takes the next step by not only seeking signs of habitable conditions on Mars in the ancient past, but also searching for signs of past microbial life itself. (Image: NASA)