NASA discovers water flowing on Mars Analysis of imaging from NASAÕs Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has proved that seasonal dark streaks on the Martian surface are the result of briny water periodically flowing across the red planetÕs surface ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ ÒRecurring slope lineaeÓ: Dark streaks less than 5 metres wide that appear on slopes during warm seasons and then fade during cooler seasons, first observed in 2011 CRISM: Spectrometer maps surface minerology Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter: Spectral data from CRISM instrument from four dark streak sites shows presence of hydrated salt minerals that precipitate from water ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ Locations where hydrated perchlorate salts detected Ð with water molecules bound to crystal structure of salt 1 Palikir crater 2 Coprates Chasma 3 Hale crater 4 Horowitz crater Microbes on Earth use perchlorate as energy source Phoenix Viking 1 Pathfinder Opportunity Viking 2 Curiosity Spirit Other dark streak sites Existing landing sites 1 2 3 4 Source: Nature Geoscience Picture: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona © GRAPHIC NEWS