Mars (English: Mars; Latin: Martis; astronomical symbol: ♂), It is the fourth closest planet to the sun and the second smallest planet in the solar system after Mercury, making it one of the four terrestrial planets in the solar system. In ancient Europe, Mars was called "Mars", and in ancient Roman mythology, the "God of War" was also known as the "Red Planet". In ancient Chinese, it was called "Yingfu" because it was as bright as fire, and its position and brightness often changed. Its orange red appearance is due to the surface being covered by hematite (iron oxide). Mars has a diameter about half that of Earth, and its axis of rotation has a similar inclination and rotation period to Earth, but its revolution period is twice that of Earth. Mars has a maximum brightness of -2.9 degrees, but is darker than Jupiter for most of the time. The Martian atmosphere is mainly composed of carbon dioxide (95.3%), which is both thin and cold, covered in impact craters, canyons, sand dunes, and gravel, without stable liquid water. The southern hemisphere is an ancient highland filled with impact craters, while the northern hemisphere is a younger lowland plain. The largest volcano on Mars - Olympus Mountain and the largest canyon - Mariner Canyon. Mars has two natural moons: Phobos and Phobos, which are irregularly shaped and may be captured asteroids. Based on observational evidence, a phenomenon similar to groundwater gushing has been observed on Mars, with a partial retreat of the Antarctic ice cap. Radar data shows a large amount of water ice beneath the surface at both poles and mid latitudes. Mars has four orbiting probes launched by NASA and Europe, namely the Odyssey, Mars Express, Mars Global Surveyor, and MAVEN Mars probe. There are also multiple American Mars rovers on the surface, such as Curiosity, Insight, and the Mars Pathfinder, Phoenix, Spirit, and Opportunity that have completed their missions. On May 15, 2021, the scientific research team confirmed based on the telemetry signal sent back by the "Zhurong" Mars rover that the "Tianwen 1" landing inspector successfully landed in the pre-selected landing area, marking the successful completion of China's first Mars exploration mission.
In this fictional historical event, the first discovery of water on the surface of Mars by humans is changed by the key factor that the water found on Mars is not just ordinary water, but a mysterious liquid with extraordinary properties. This discovery leads to a series of scientific breakthroughs and a new space race among nations to harness the potential of this enigmatic substance.