History of Mars in Timeline

Mars, the fourth planet from the Sun, is a terrestrial planet known as the "Red Planet" due to its iron(III) oxide-covered surface. It's among the brightest objects in Earth's sky and has a diameter of 6,779 km (4,212 mi), making it the second smallest planet in the Solar System. A Martian solar day (sol) lasts 24.6 hours, and a Martian year is 1.88 Earth years. Mars also has two small, irregularly shaped natural satellites: Phobos and Deimos.

1909: Antoniadi's observations of Mars

During observations in 1909, Antoniadi used an 84-centimetre telescope and observed irregular patterns on Mars, but no canali were seen.

1909: Campbell and Slipher Repeat Martian Atmosphere Study

In 1909, W. W. Campbell and V. M. Slipher repeated the study of the Martian atmosphere using better instruments, confirming their earlier results that if water vapor or oxygen exist in the atmosphere of Mars, they are present in quantities too small to be detected by the spectroscopes available at the time.

1925: Adams Confirms Martian Atmosphere Findings

In 1925, W. S. Adams confirmed the findings of Campbell and Slipher, definitively breaking the myth of Earth-like habitability on Mars. This confirmation supported earlier observations regarding the scarcity of water vapor and oxygen in the Martian atmosphere.

1938: Publication of C.S. Lewis's Out of the Silent Planet

In 1938, C.S. Lewis's novel, Out of the Silent Planet, which is part of the Space Trilogy, was published, contributing to the science fiction depiction of Mars.

Out of the Silent Planet (1) (The Space Trilogy)

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1948: Marvin the Martian's Debut

In 1948, the character Marvin the Martian first appeared in the Looney Tunes animated cartoon Haredevil Hare by Warner Brothers. Marvin the Martian became a comic figure and has been part of popular culture ever since.

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November 1964: Launch of Mariner 4

On 28 November 1964, NASA's Mariner 4 was launched.

July 1965: Mariner 4's closest approach to Mars

On 15 July 1965, Mariner 4 made its closest approach to Mars, detecting the weak Martian radiation belt and capturing the first images of another planet from deep space.

1965: First flyby by Mariner 4

In 1965, the Mariner 4 probe performed the first flyby of Mars.

1971: First orbit by Mars 2 probe

In 1971, the Mars 2 probe became the first spacecraft to orbit Mars.

1972: Selection of Airy-0 for Prime Meridian

In 1972, following extensive imagery from Mariner 9, Airy-0 crater in Sinus Meridiani was chosen to define 0.0° longitude for Mars' Prime Meridian.

1976: First landing by Viking 1 probe

In 1976, the Viking 1 probe achieved the first successful landing on Mars.

1996: Launch of Mars Global Surveyor

In 1996, the Mars Global Surveyor mission was launched and operated until late 2006, producing detailed maps of Mars.

1999: Plate Tectonic Activity Hypothesis

In 1999, a hypothesis suggested that alternating polarity reversals of Mars's dipole field indicate plate tectonic activity four billion years ago.

2000: Core Temperature

Around the year 2000, the temperature of Mars's core was estimated to be 2000-2400 K.

2001: 2001 Mars Odyssey in orbit

As of 2023, the 2001 Mars Odyssey is one of the functioning spacecraft currently in orbit around Mars; it had been in orbit since 2001.

2003: Mars close approach to Earth

In 2003, Mars had a close approach to Earth (opposition).

2004: Opportunity detects Jarosite

In 2004, the Opportunity rover detected the mineral jarosite, indicating the past presence of acidic water on Mars.

October 2005: Re-examination of Plate Tectonic Hypothesis

In October 2005, the plate tectonic activity hypothesis was re-examined with the help of the Mars Global Surveyor.

2006: End of Mars Global Surveyor mission

In late 2006, the Mars Global Surveyor mission concluded, having produced detailed maps of Mars' topography, magnetic field, and surface minerals.

2007: Spirit rover finds silica deposits

In 2007, the Spirit rover discovered concentrated deposits of silica, further supporting evidence of past wet conditions on Mars.

December 2011: Opportunity rover finds gypsum

In December 2011, NASA's Opportunity rover found gypsum on the surface of Mars, providing additional evidence for the presence of water.

2012: Valles Marineris as a Plate Boundary

In 2012, it was proposed that Valles Marineris is a plate boundary with significant transverse motion, suggesting Mars may have a two-tectonic plate arrangement.

March 2013: Curiosity rover finds evidence of mineral hydration

On 18 March 2013, NASA reported that the Curiosity rover found evidence of mineral hydration in several rock samples, along with subsurface water, amounting to as much as 4% water content, down to a depth of 60 centimetres.

2014: Analysis of Martian Meteorite EETA79001

In 2014, analysis of the Martian meteorite EETA79001 revealed chlorate, perchlorate, and nitrate ions in concentrations suggesting their widespread presence on Mars. The study indicated that UV and X-ray radiation would convert chlorate and perchlorate ions into reactive oxychlorines, implying that organic molecules would need to be buried to survive.

March 2015: Theory of a Past Martian Ocean

In March 2015, scientists stated that an ancient ocean on Mars might have been the size of Earth's Arctic Ocean, based on the ratio of protium to deuterium in the Martian atmosphere.

September 2015: Evidence of Hydrated Brine Flows

In September 2015, NASA announced strong evidence of hydrated brine flows in recurring slope lineae, based on spectrometer readings, though later work suggested the lineae may be dry, granular flows instead.

November 2016: Discovery of Underground Ice

In November 2016, NASA reported finding a large amount of underground ice in the Utopia Planitia region, estimated to be equivalent to the volume of water in Lake Superior.

September 2017: Radiation spike associated with bright aurora

In September 2017, NASA reported that radiation levels on Mars temporarily doubled, due to an aurora 25 times brighter than any observed earlier, linked to a solar storm.

2017: NASA Authorization Act Directs Mars Mission Feasibility Study

In 2017, the NASA Authorization Act directed NASA to study the feasibility of a crewed Mars mission in the early 2030s. The study concluded that such a mission would be unfeasible.

2018: ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter Spots Subsurface Ice Indications

During observations from 2018 through 2021, the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter spotted indications of water, probably subsurface ice, in the Valles Marineris canyon system.

2018: Mars close approach to Earth

In 2018, Mars had a close approach to Earth (opposition).

2019: Detection of marsquakes by InSight

In 2019, it was reported that the InSight lander had detected and recorded over 450 marsquakes and related events, confirming Mars' seismic activity.

2020: Mars close approach to Earth

In 2020, Mars had a close approach to Earth (opposition).

2021: ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter Spots Subsurface Ice Indications

During observations from 2018 through 2021, the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter spotted indications of water, probably subsurface ice, in the Valles Marineris canyon system.

2021: China Plans Crewed Mars Mission

In 2021, China announced plans to send a crewed mission to Mars in 2033.

April 2023: Updated Global Map of Mars Reported

In April 2023, The New York Times reported an updated global map of Mars based on images from the Hope spacecraft, and NASA released a much more detailed map.

2023: Evidence of past ring system

A study in 2023 presented evidence, based on the orbital inclination of Deimos, suggesting that Mars may have had a ring system 3.5 to 4 billion years ago.

2023: Functioning spacecraft on Mars

As of 2023, Mars hosts ten functioning spacecraft, including eight in orbit and two on the surface.

2023: Active probes on Mars

As of 2023, there are at least 11 active probes orbiting Mars or on the Martian surface.

February 2024: Space debris reaches seven tons

As of February 2024, the total mass of space debris from missions to Mars has reached over seven tons.

April 2024: SpaceX Plans for Mars Colony

In April 2024, Elon Musk shared plans for SpaceX to establish a Mars colony within the next twenty years. This vision includes mass manufacturing of Starship and in situ resource utilization on Mars to achieve full self-sustainability.

April 2024: NASA selects companies to begin studies

In April 2024, NASA selected several companies to begin studies on providing commercial services to further enable robotic science on Mars. Key areas include establishing telecommunications, payload delivery and surface imaging.

June 2024: Cheyava Falls Rock Designated Potential Biosignature

In June 2024, NASA designated the Cheyava Falls rock, discovered on Mars, as a "potential biosignature." The Perseverance rover core sampled the rock for possible return to Earth for further examination. As of June 2024, no definitive determination on a biological or abiotic origin of this rock can be made with the data currently available.