I think that a combination of research will answer that question, including this latest mission. While the folks doing the research haven't necessarily addressed the question you raise head-on, they have produced substantial implicit evidence…e.g., chemistry features of the soil, date re: the atmosphere, geologic history, etc.

I share your sentiment. I would like to see more direct research…but I also realize that the approach to reasearching a planet is very much like assembling a jigsaw puzzle. Every mission produces evidence that will lead to larger conclusions. If you get a chance, get your hands on some of the NASA/JPL-produced documentaries of the Voyager missions. It really puts things in perspective…and might give you some counterbalance to your frustrations re: Mars research.

Mars is a bit to the small side, but it isn't too small to have a thick atmosphere. Proof of that is Titan, which is smaller than Mars and yet its atmosphere is thicker than the Earth's.

It all depends on a balance between the amount of the so-called "volatiles" available in the planet, the planet's mass (therefore gravity) and the temperature range it shows (and a few more exotic things, like how strong is the planet's magnetic field and if it exists at all).

Besides, all planets lose atmosphere. The Earth is losing its atmosphere. Luckily for us, that loss is veeeery slow, and is probably compensated by new material falling in from interplanetary space. In the case of Mars, we still don't know how and when did Mars lose its atmosphere, and that's what the measurement of today's atmospheric loss will try to determine.

Crackpots couldn't care less about facts. Their delusional minds just know there are "artifacts", and the fact that there are no artifacts in any photos isn't a sign that the artifacts aren't there: it's a sign that NASA is covering up. Typical childish behaviour. They want the artifacts, and since they don't get what they want, they throw a tantrum.

Grow up.

And learn something about how space cameras work, about how higher definition relates with the size of the field of view in every photo, about how long it takes to cover a whole planet in any given scale, about pareidoilia (spelling?), in sum, about reality.

NASA has the best unblurring applications and computers, why then all the give to the public are blurry, dark, small pictures of questioned places?

What stops NASA from publishing HD pictures of the places which look full of artifacts or other questionable places?

Instead of going for the neck of those who question this odd behavior, some reader should ask those questions until we get answers.

I know everyone wants Mars to be as much like Earth as possible but we really have to take it as it is. If mars supports/supported life it will have to do so with a thin atmosphere… and why not?

On Earth that's very difficult, because of weather, plate tectonics and most importantly, life itself.

There was methane found in the atmosphere a few years ago. So what should we do? Get rid of that stupid mission designed to study… the atmosphere.

ROFLOL

Get your Christmas shopping done early in 2012. When the crazies wake up on Dec. 22 to find the world still here, the stores are going to be packed!

Our recent missions to Mars have been all about digging, drilling, scraping etc on the surface. We've found water, yet no life. Does that mean there isn't life… no? However, you cannot just keep sending up robots in ad hoc style hoping you find the few spots they may be.

One thing we haven't really accomplished is to study the atmosphere.
TD you want to know about organic compounds like methane and microbial life? If it exists, they both will be in the atmosphere. In fact, its a lot more likely to find both flying in the atmosphere than it will be taking pot shots at various locations. Apparently you believe we have some highly detailed geographic maps of the sub-layers of Mars. Guess what…we don't; certainly not to the same detail we have of Earth.

Studying the atmosphere can give us a clue to how long ago Mars may have had an atmosphere; which clues us into things like (in simple terms) "How deep we may have to dig" to find certain things.
NASA would also like to send craft which move around Mars by "flying" or "floating"; thus allowing them to cover much greater area in shorter amount of time; sort of need atmospheric data for this, dont you think?
And although I could give a 2 hour lecture, I'll point out one more thing… looking for answers to the questions which have been brought up about the Martian atmosphere from the recent data we received from our 3 current probes there.

Now, while your narrow minded interest is in dirt and mud; there are many other things to science, and many other answers to find. Sticking to just one item would be…well… narrow minded.

And TD – I'll defend the status quo for you, oh valiant advocate of reform and accountability in the space exploration industry!

If you can't see the connection between the geologic and atmospheric history of Mars and the possibility of finding life (past or present) on Mars, then you have not the slightest clue of what you're talking about. We have technology on and around Mars that is astounding in its capability – slowly chipping away at these tough questions to build a complete picture of our neighboring planet, including answering the question of life, and all you can muster is a 'hurry up'?!

You talk about it all as if we should just get our s**t together, kill all of the other missions off and just go and find some life already, as if NASA scientists wouldn't love to be able to just throw a mission together and go and dig up some microbes on Mars… You seem to think that because Sinton saw some vague C-H absorption lines in his telescope 40 years ago, it should be a piece of piss to just march in there and get what we need, if only the bureaucratic NASA types would just see reason!

You have to be kidding.

Defenders of the status quo, please chime in.

We really need to know what is in those mystery spot with weird shapes spread all over certain parts of the planes totally ignored by NASA recognassaince missions. Don't tell they do not know there is water in Mars. They can pinpoint methane lakes in Titan and they cannot detect water on Mars? Please have some respect for the general public. NASA has to stop following the patterns of the Orson Wells panic-preventing policies our administrations enforced for years.

There was intelligent life on Mars. So what? What is the big deal?
There is water on Mars. So what? What is the big deal?
There are plenty of dwelling ruins on Mars. So what? What is the big deal?
There are unusual artifacts spread all over the Martian surface. So what? What is the big deal?

There will be no riots, no mass suicides — Nothing!