Mars Lander Finds Evidence Of Water

Phoenix Detects Presence Of Minerals Formed In Liquid Water, Also Spots Falling Snow

(AP)  NASA's Phoenix spacecraft has discovered evidence of past water at its Martian landing site and spotted falling snow for the first time, scientists reported Monday.

Soil experiments revealed the presence of two minerals known to be formed in liquid water. Scientists identified the minerals as calcium carbonate, found in limestone and chalk, and sheet silicate.

But exactly how that happened remains a mystery.

"It's really kind of all up in the air," said William Boynton, a mission scientist at the University of Arizona at Tucson.

A laser aboard the Phoenix recently detected snow falling from clouds more than two miles above its home in the northern arctic plains. The snow disappeared before reaching the ground.

Phoenix landed in the Martian arctic plains in May on a three-month mission to study whether the environment could be friendly to microbial life. One of its biggest discoveries so far is confirming the presence of ice on the planet.

Scientists long suspected frozen water was buried in the northern plains based on measurements from an orbiting spacecraft. The lander also found that the soil was slightly alkaline and contained important nutrients and minerals.

Scientists think there could have been standing water at the site in the past or the ice could have melted and interacted with the minerals.

"Is this a habitable zone on Mars? I think we're approaching that hypothesis," said chief scientist Peter Smith of the University of Arizona. "We understand, though, that Mars has many surprises for us and we have not finished our investigation."

Mars today is frigid and dry with no sign of water on the surface, but researchers believe the planet once was warmer and wetter.

NASA extended the three-month mission through the end of the year if Phoenix can survive that long. With summer waning, less sunlight is reaching the spacecraft's solar panels.

Phoenix will be out of touch with ground controllers briefly in November when the sun is between Earth and Mars, blocking communications.

Scientists are racing to use the remaining four of Phoenix's eight tiny test ovens before the lander dies. The ovens are designed to sniff for traces of organic, or carbon-based compounds, that are considered the building blocks of life. Experiments so far has failed to turn up definitive evidence of organics.

For more information and multimedia on the Mars Phoenix mission, visit the Web sites of NASA and the University of Arizona.

[displeased]

They are hoping!
Posted by StopSocialis

Rick, do you really think atheists are afraid of your god and therefore living in fear? Scientists search for knowledge, not myths. Please get a grip.

[displeased]

Unbelievable.
Posted by biggcheese1

Its sad you''re so grouchy and you suffer a hatred to Marvin the Martian. Maybe your day will get better. Probably not though if you keep yelling at everybody.

[aerhed]

I like the original ski Mars comment. Less gravity, more air probably not too crowded. Virga snow on Mars, ain''t that somethin''?

[bob5ford]

Have the real estate speculators started selling waterfront lots yet?

[joeybergas]

I don''''''''t believe NASA made it too the Moon yet! The Sun''''''''s radiation coupled with unpredictable solar flair activity would have made it virtually impossible. The caveman engineered landing tin-can was an insult to believe; but entertaining propaganda to save the NASA organization.

Yawn. And the world is flat.

agree with the yawner......that dude is an idiot..... i''ll leave that judgment to the people who actually are capable of putting people in space....

[scottyusa]

We sure are spending a lot of money to find the answer about life on mars. The technology and what NASA has done is no less than stupendous but why?

[biggcheese1]

Atttention:
Good4Always, Displeased, mcv57, GrabAndGo, HAMILTONGRAD...

My God, you people are ignorant. Are they giving prizes these days for stupid? Can any of you find Texas on a map? If you see two holes in the ground, which one is your a-s?

Unbelievable.

[displeased]

Water On Mars...Marvin said no there isn''''t
Posted by GrabAndGo

Doesn''t he need water to create his instant martians? Ahhh, I bet he imports it, from China most likely.

[mcv57]

I don''t believe NASA made it too the Moon yet! The Sun''s radiation coupled with unpredictable solar flair activity would have made it virtually impossible. The caveman engineered landing tin-can was an insult to believe; but entertaining propaganda to save the NASA organization.

[Marie Zarankevich]

With the presence of calcium carbonate, there exists, I believe, the possibility that it is left from remains of very small lifeforms, much as the chalk and limestone deposits on Earth. The "White Cliffs of Dover" are made of vast deposits of such materials. Thing to do is research the existence of calcium carbonate that is NOT of biological origin.

[hamiltongrad]

Too bad JPL is not even close to a Trader Joe''s.

[hamiltongrad]

Mars calling Trader Joe''s


If you experts wanted to find microbe life here on earth, you would do cultures and see what grows, not look for "water". Why not on Mars ?

Here''s how you do it. Get a piece of cheese, from Trader Joe''s. Put on plate. Put plate on space ship, launch. When lands, unrap cheese, and with mechanical Canadian Arm set chesse "outside" in Mars winds. Let it stay there for about 2 weeks. Pull back arm, and use microscope to see what is on the surface. If you see stuff moving around, well you got your answer.
//// them ???

[displeased]

Displeased! I didnt read the story I read the headline stupid!!! Mind your own business ***!!!!
Posted by maine11111

How did you find time to come on here and comment while you were so busy dwelling over the economy? Take your whining elsewhere!

[mrmazerati]

If there is water, there is, or once was, life. If there is, or was, life on our nearest neighbor, the universe will be teeming with it. We are not alone, and never have been.

[sly_64]

Talk poitics and economy on the the other blogs. This is a nice release from that trash.

[maine11111]

Displeased! I didnt read the story I read the headline stupid!!! Mind your own business ***!!!!

[observer2020]

maine11111: The money is already spent. Besides, we need this exploration. At the rate we are destroying our own planet, we need to look for other places to live.

[displeased]

Look at this country''''s financial situation!!!!! NOBODY CARES ABOUT THIS MESS!!!!!!
Posted by maine11111

I do. And you must too else you wouldn''t be reading the story.

[maine11111]

Look at this country''s financial situation!!!!! NOBODY CARES ABOUT THIS MESS!!!!!!

[easeup-2009]

and nothing about the mud in Uranus?