Chris Hadfield on exploring Mars and the growing conversation about UFOs

Landing a rover on Mars is "almost indescribably difficult," according to retired Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield.

China's space agency is the latest to do so, dropping the Zhurong rover on Mars earlier this month. On Saturday, it took its first drive on the planet's surface.

Hadfield, who was the first Canadian commander of the International Space Station, said conducting research on Mars is crucial to finding out whether we're alone in the universe.

"Why are we trying to land on Mars? Well, I think the fundamental question is that Mars was a lot like Earth four billion years ago when life first formed on Earth," he told Cross Country Checkup guest host Jason D'Souza on Sunday.

The rovers currently traversing Mars are conducting research and taking samples from the ground. If a rover finds one fossil, Hadfield said, "we will know we're not alone in the universe."

Hadfield joined Checkup as part of the program's regular Ask Me Anything series, and answered questions from listeners about Mars, unidentified flying objects and our responsibility as humans in space. 

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