Life on Mars?In 1976 two Viking spacecraft reached Mars. When they arrived eachspacecraft split in two. One part, called the Orbiter, travelled around theplanet taking photographs and measuring temperatures. The second partcalled the Lander, touched down on the planet's surface. Although theLander measured the Martian weather and had equipment on board to detectvibrations like earthquakes, the experiments that everyone wanted to knowabout were the ones to test the soil for signs of life. There was greatexcitement when one of the soil samples began to froth. It could have beencaused by something respiring - a sign of life. After a few weeks of furtherinvestigation it was decided that the froth was most probably made by achemical reaction not connected to a living organism.There are signs that water once ran over the planet's surface, so somescientists believe that there could still be life there, but that it is burieddeeper in the soil than the Lander could reach.In 1997 the Pathfinder probe reached Mars and a vehicle called theSojourner travelled around the landing site to take photographs and performtests on rocks. It did not have any experiments on board to test for life.Further observations on the planet have shown that some water ispresent. As living things need water there is a chance that when the water isexamined some life forms may be found.Answer to these questions given below. 1 What were the two parts of theViking spacecraft and whatdid each part do?2 Why could the froth be a signthat something was respiring?3 What are the advantages anddisadvantages of bringingback Martian rock to Earth tolook for organisms?Can any of the disadvantagesbe overcome? Explain youranswer.​