As an inquisitive civilization eager to explore the mysteries of our solar system, it’s inevitable that we generate some waste during space missions. This is particularly true on Mars, where years of deploying probes, landers, rovers, and heat shields have contributed to a substantial amount of debris on its rocky terrain.

It is estimated that over 7 tons of human-generated “space litter” is scattered across the Martian landscape. This junk—viewed by some as potential artifacts for a future museum on Mars—includes abandoned tools, crashed spacecraft, and inactive equipment that is past its prime.

The quest for a deeper understanding of Mars’ resources, especially during the United States’ space race with the Soviet Union, has motivated numerous missions, including landers, rovers, and a helicopter sent to Mars since the early 1970s.

Looking ahead, potential Mars missions in the next ten years include a joint effort between NASA and the European Space Agency to collect soil samples collected by the Perseverance rover, a similar initiative from China to gather samples from the Zhurong Tianwen 1 rover, and separate lander missions from ESA and India.

What is the extent of human-made debris on Mars?

Some of the most significant debris on Mars includes parts from the Viking landers, heat shields, insulation fragments, and recently, parachutes and backshells from the Curiosity and Perseverance rover missions. Among these is a drone that is now grounded with a damaged propeller.

A 2022 estimate from Space.com suggests that the total weight of all the inactive materials on Mars is around 15,694 pounds, calculated by taking the total weight of all mission payloads sent, minus the weight of operational equipment.

Occasionally, images of our debris lead to internet speculation about alien artifacts or mysterious objects found on Mars. This occurred with images released in April 2022 by NASA/JPL-Caltech, which depicted the backshell and parachute of the Mars Perseverance rover from a height of 26 feet, captured by the Mars helicopter Ingenuity.

The materials used in landers and equipment are specifically designed to endure Mars’ extreme conditions, featuring metals like titanium, aluminum, and steel, along with various polymers in insulation and glass in cameras and optical instruments.

While the likelihood of existing debris disrupting future missions is minimal, researchers remain vigilant about “EDL” (Entry, Descent, and Landing) debris and its potential to affect soil samples.

SOURCES: NASA; European Space Agency; Space.com