NASA Discovers Mysterious , Martian 'Hole' That Could , Shelter Future Astronauts.<br />'LiveScience' reports that scientists have <br />discovered a mysterious pit on the side <br />of an ancient volcano on Mars.<br />The discovery has generated <br />excitement due to what it may reveal <br />beneath the Red Planet's surface.<br />Images of the pit were <br />first captured by NASA's <br />Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. .<br />The hole's origins and <br />depth remain unknown.<br />This pit, found on an extinct lava flow of Arsia Mons, <br />appears to be a vertical shaft that scientists <br />believe could lead to a much larger cavern. .<br />The pit could also be a deep <br />lava tube formed at a time when <br />Arsia Mons was still active.<br />Due to the thin atmosphere and lack of a magnetic <br />field, scientists have looked to pits and caves to <br />potentially shelter astronauts in the future. .<br />'LiveScience' reports that if Mars ever hosted life, those <br />organisms may have sheltered in pits like this one, which <br />could offer protection and even allow life to flourish. .<br />If future missions reveal that the pit leads to a large <br />open cave, it could provide the perfect landing <br />site for crewed missions to Mars in the future.
