WASHINGTON – U.S. House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) issued the following statement regarding NASA’s Curiosity rover’s groundbreaking discovery on Mars.

Chairman Smith: “Congratulations to NASA on Curiosity’s finding of incredible new evidence on Mars, including ancient organic molecules and atmospheric methane, that suggests the Red Planet may have supported ancient life. When NASA successfully landed the rover, it was one of the agency’s most challenging and complex missions, and today that success is paying dividends. We are one step closer to understanding our neighbor planet’s history, and I look forward to all this mission will continue to find.”