Earth Trash Found on Mars... Already 7 Tons Accumulated

50 Years of Continuous Mars Exploration Attempts
Numerous Debris Generated from Atmospheric Entry and Landing Impact

Debris suspected to be spacecraft wreckage found on Mars / Photo by NASA

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Nayeon] An analysis has emerged suggesting that approximately 7 tons of debris may exist on the surface of Mars, known as the "Red Planet."

On the 20th (local time), Kagri Kilic, a lunar and Mars exploration robot researcher at West Virginia University in the United States, stated, "If we subtract the mass of currently operating spacecraft and rovers, which is about 3 tons, from the total 10 tons of all spacecraft launched to Mars so far, the remaining 7 tons are left as debris on Mars."

According to the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UN OOSA), humanity has continuously attempted Mars exploration over the past 50 years, and after 14 attempts, has succeeded in delivering 18 artificial objects to the Martian surface.

The first artificial object to successfully land on Mars was the Soviet Union's 'Mars 2' probe, which crash-landed on Mars in 1971. However, Mars 2 is believed to have been swept away by a Martian storm during landing and crashed.

Since then, NASA, the European Space Agency, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Russian Space Agency, the Indian Space Research Organisation, and the China National Space Administration have sent numerous spacecraft to Mars.

However, regardless of whether these spacecraft successfully landed, they have commonly generated a significant amount of Martian debris.

The debris currently found on the Martian surface includes parts that were discarded after becoming unnecessary, spacecraft that have ceased functioning, and fragments broken off due to impact.

In particular, many fragments are generated during atmospheric entry and landing impacts, and these fragments are carried by Martian winds, spreading across the entire planet.

Martian debris is also frequently discovered by NASA's exploration rover, Perseverance. In June, NASA posted on its official Twitter, "Our team found something unexpected," along with photos of debris found on Mars.

This object was found about 2 km from the landing site and was identified as a piece of the thermal protection blanket used during the rover's landing on Mars.

As human-made debris overflows on Mars, a celestial body humanity has yet to set foot on, experts' concerns are growing.

NASA pointed out, "There is a possibility that Earth debris could contaminate Martian samples collected by exploration rovers or cause equipment malfunctions by colliding with the rovers."