Mars (Page 19)

NASA’s Phoenix Lander spacecraft has collected a soil sample and had studied it in a chemistry lab on board the lander. NASA says they have discovered water in the soil.

This answers a major question about Mars: is the ice that is on the planet made of carbon dioxide or water? BBC News quotes NASA?s William Boynton as saying that this is the first time that Mars water has been “touched and tasted.” This finding paves the way for future colonization of the Red Planet.
read more

We now know that water is on the moon, but it was once on Mars?so there could once have been life there, even if it isn?t there today. New NASA data reveals that there was once plenty of water on Mars, in huge lakes and flowing rivers, and they think these conditions lasted for many years.

BBC News quotes Jack Mustard as saying, “This is really exciting because we’re finding dozens of sites where future missions can land to understand if Mars was ever habitable and if so, to look for signs of past life.” There may only be bacterial life there now, but WE could be there in the future. Mustard says, “What does this mean for habitability? It’s very strong. It wasn’t this hot, boiling cauldron. It was a benign, water-rich environment for a long period of time.”
read more

We don’t yet know if there’s life on Mars, but now that we’ve found water, we know that there could soon be life there?HUMAN life. But we need more than water, we need food. Well, surprise! Martian dirt is similar to “potting soil” on earth?you could grow vegetables in it. In fact, BBC News reports that it would be excellent for growing asparagus.

BBC News quotes chemist Samuel Kounaves as saying, “We basically have found what appears to be the requirements, the nutrients, to support life, whether past, present or future.” He found the soil to be “very friendly? there is nothing about it that is toxic. It is the type of soil you would probably have in your back yard?you know, alkaline. You might be able to grow asparagus in it really well.”
read more

The Phoenix lander has found ice on Mars. Astronomers identify it as ice because some of it that was unearthed in a trench dug by the lander disappeared 4 days later, meaning it melted or vaporized. NASA thinks that water is “locked up” in a layer of permafrost just under the surface of Mars.

BBC News quotes NASA’s Peter Smith as saying, “It must be ice. These little clumps completely disappearing over the course of a few days?that is perfect evidence that it’s ice?There had been some question whether the bright material was salt. Salt can’t do that.” But is it WATER ice??the kind that can support life (either Martian or human, should we eventually set up a colony there).

Stay tuned.
read more