Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Here’s the scoop. The Phoenix Mars Lander confirmed the presence of ice and also surprised scientists by finding indications of perchlorate salts.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

One finding from Mars exploration is that the Red Planet is a haven of pervasive perchlorate.

On one hand, the carpet of perchlorate chemistry found on Mars may boost the chances that microbial life exists on the Red Planet. However, perchlorates are also perilous to the health of future crews destined to explore that way-off world.

Then there’s the prospect of using perchlorate as a solid rocket propellant. It’s there in abundance and, quite literally, fuels the imagination of launching off that distant world to other destinations.

For more information, go to my new Multiverse Media SpaceRef story — “Perchlorate on the Red Planet: How a Toxin in Martian Soil Can Fuel Future Exploration” — at:

https://spaceref.com/science-and-exploration/perchlorate-red-planet-toxin-martian-soil-fuel-future-exploration/