Atmosphere of ancient Mars had high levels of oxygen: NASA

New Delhi: NASA draws parallel between ancient Mars and the Earth in terms of presence of oxygen and suggested that the atmosphere of the Red Planet had high levels of oxygen than it has now.

This research was done on the basis of chemicals found in Martian rocks by NASA's curiosity Mars rover. A laser firing instrument on the rover also helped in detecting high concentration of manganese oxide.

NASA researchers still don't have any clear idea about the past life on Mars. But they do have a theory that suggests that at one point in distant past, the Red Planet had both water and protective magnetic field just like our home planet.

However, as soon as magnetic field disappeared, the high radiation ionized the water and splitted its molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. And eventually planet's famous red-oxide rocks absorbed much of its oxygen.

So, on this basis scientists believed that early Mars had more oxygen than the Earth.