NASA uses Chile's Atacama Desert to test Mars rovers because its soil is chemically similar to the Red Planet.

The Atacama Desert in northern Chile is widely considered the best terrestrial analog for the Martian surface. This is largely due to its extreme aridity, as some weather stations in the region have never recorded a single drop of rain. The hyper-arid core of the desert has existed for roughly 15 million years, creating a landscape where liquid water is virtually non-existent.Chemically, the soil is a near-perfect match for Mars because it is rich in perchlorates and iron oxides. Perchlorates are salts that are toxic to most life on Earth but are found in high concentrations on the Martian surface. The absence of organic molecules in the Atacama's core allows NASA scientists to test the sensitivity of life-detection instruments without interference from Earth-based biology.Since 1997, NASA and the SETI Institute have conducted numerous missions in the Atacama, such as the 'Life in the Atacama' project. These missions involve testing autonomous rovers like the KREX-2 and the Zoë rover to see how they navigate rugged terrain and operate deep-drilling equipment. By perfecting these technologies in Chile, engineers ensure that multi-billion dollar missions like Curiosity and Perseverance can withstand the harsh, sterile environment of the Red Planet.