Not only are humans already polluting another planet, but scientists fear the debris could contaminate samples being collected by NASA’s Perseverance rover that is currently searching for ancient life on Mars.
Much of the garbage is inevitable, as many of the parts have to be discarded in order to protect craft as it soars through the Red Planet’s hellish atmosphere - including NASA's Perseverance that endured the seven minutes of hell when it landed in February 2021.
The rover, which is collecting samples on Mars that will be brought back to Earth, has captured images of trash while on its mission.
In June, NASA's team on Earth spotted a light in the distance in an image sent back by Perseverance, which they then directed the rover to take a look.
NASA's Opportunity is now dead on Mars, but it sent a picture of its heat shield in 2004, along with debris that littered the ground for several miles
There are a total of nine inactive spacecraft sitting on Mars, including the Mars 3 lander, Mars 6 lander, Viking 1 lander, Viking 2 lander, the Sojourner rover, the European Space Agency’s Schiaparelli lander (pictured), the Phoenix lander, the Spirit rover and the Opportunity rover
Then there are the dead robots on Mars, specifically NASA’s Opportunity that was active from 2004 to mid-2018
There are a total of nine inactive spacecraft sitting on Mars, including the Mars 3 lander, Mars 6 lander, Viking 1 lander, Viking 2 lander, the Sojourner rover, the European Space Agency’s Schiaparelli lander, the Phoenix lander, the Spirit rover and the Opportunity rover