55
The atmosphere
The layer of gas around a
planet is called its atmosphere.
Mars’s thin atmosphere doesn’t
filter out harmful radiation from
the Sun, such as solar wind
(particles that can damage
anything they touch).
Investigating Mars
In 2020, The European Space
Agency plans to send a rover
to Mars. Its mission is to
search for alien life that
could be buried in the soil.
Astro-gardeners
To grow plants on Mars, a
special greenhouse would be
needed to protect the plants from
the extreme temperatures.
It would also stop them
exploding in the air,
which has very
low pressure.
Astronauts
would grow
vegetables.
A special
greenhouse
could add
air pressure.
The ice caps
get so cold
that gas
freezes solid
and falls
from the air.
Water on Mars
Mars’s water has mostly been
heated into a gas by the Sun,
and has floated off into
space. However,
polar ice caps
remain.
P
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054-055_Soil_of_mars.indd 55 08/11/2019 09:39