Nasa set to unveil 'major science finding' on Mars

Nasa is due to reveal details of a "major science finding" resulting from the US space agency's ongoing exploration of Mars.

The announcement of the press briefing - due on Monday afternoon - has prompted speculation that the agency could have discovered traces of liquid water on the Red Planet.

Previously, Nasa's Curiosity Rover robot - which has been exploring the planet's surface since August 2012 - has detected signs of past water, fuelling theories that conditions could or may have supported life.

Curiosity's advanced cameras continue to provide high-definition images, offering scientists unrivalled insights into Mars' surface.

So what does this mean?

It has long been thought that Mars once held huge swathes of liquid water.

In March, scientists said evidence suggested an ancient ocean on the surface of Mars held more liquid water than the Earth's Arctic Ocean at one time.

Dr Michael Mumma researcher at Nasa's Goddard Space Flight Centre, said the study's findings suggested the planet "might have been habitable" for a significant period of time.

A potential game changer?

Doug McCuistion, former head of Nasa’s Mars programme, told the Boston Herald, if the agency announces that they have found free flowing water under its surface, it will have "massive implications for the both for the potential for life on that planet and sustainability of humans".

However, even if water has been found there would be "big challenges" ahead in the bid to put humans on the Red Planet, Mr McCuistion said.

"If it’s already there and you don’t have to bring it, that could save you many, many metric tons of resupply as well as initial carrying capacity and landing mass ... if you take water out of the equation that’s going to lighten the load significantly".

"One of the big challenges for scientists is the production of enough oxygen and enough water to sustain a human crew", he added.