"We determined salt granules in the rock indicate it was exposed to water," Translation: We still, despite all our bulls**t weasel-words and tap dancing, cannot objectively prove there was ever water on Mars.
“We determined salt granules in the rock indicate it was exposed to water . . . .”
I tend to concur with your comment. On what basis does the presence of salt necessitate, let alone intimate, the presence of water at any time? Do the facts at all lend credence to the assumptions?