Nasa's lander samples Mars water

[bigworld]

Source: BBC

Nasa's Phoenix lander spacecraft has for the first time identified water in a sample of soil collected from the planet's surface.

Scientists will now be able to begin studying the sample to see whether the planet was ever, or is, habitable.

The craft previously had problems transferring samples from its robotic arm to the onboard lab for analysis.

The success and the good condition of the craft mean the mission will be extended until the end of September.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7536123.stm

[aquart]

1. Did you just say there is water on Mars?

WATER ON MARS!!!!!!!!

[Xipe Totec]

4. It's not water - it's Dasani

PASADENA, CA—The Coca-Cola-sponsored Real Rover has discovered evidence that the surface of Mars was once partially covered by free-flowing Dasani, scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory announced Monday.

The Real Rover's instruments found signs that cool, refreshing Dasani once drenched the surface of the Red Planet," said Dr. Marvin Chen, NASA space-science administrator and temporary liaison to Coca-Cola. "This discovery is so exciting, because it indicates that the Red Planet may have once hosted a healthy, active, fun-filled microscopic life. You see, Dasani would have been as vital to Martian lifeforms as it is to their terrestrial counterparts."


http://www.theonion.com/content/node/30505

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. WOoooooooooooooo hoooooooooooooOOOOO!!!

[no limit]

3. Holy Shit

[flvegan]

5. If it is habitable, can we send all the Freepers there?

[Taverner]

6. Nah, they get to be the first astronauts to land on the sun

[jimshoes]

8. You can't fool them, they know it's too hot

they'll land on the dark side of the sun where its cooler.:+

[Taverner]

9. Yes - as long as they travel at night they should be OK

;)

[Xithras]

7. Why would you send them somewhere habitable?

I can think of much better places to send them.

[flvegan]

11. Well

I don't really wish them any harm. I recognize their ignorance, and just wish they weren't here mucking up the works.

[Peace Patriot]

20. Send them to Titan--crude oil lakes all over it--NASA

Just announced. Liquid lakes (the only other liquid known on any other orb in the solar system)--those big black spots they found (remember?)--are filled with liquid ethane, a component of crude. The perfect place for NeoCons, Freepers and Bushites who love oil so much they kill for it.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3417616

[tridim]

12. Freepers don't need any of that damn Liberal atmosphere.

Send em all.

[Faygo Kid]

10. Pretty amazing stuff. I always figured Marvin had to drink something there.

[bronxiteforever]

13. Kick & R

[bulloney]

14. So, why was this reported by the BBC?

Are the U.S. media gerbils too busy reporting on Paris Hilton, or on how Obama royally screwed up during his recent Middle East and European visits, or fawning over McCain's gaffe du jour?

[iamthebandfanman]

19. i actually saw it on cnn

and one of the other major networks(cbs, nbs or abc... didnt notice which one as i saw it being reported while flipping channels)

[Pale Blue Dot]

15. Awesome!!!

:woohoo:

[Uncle Joe]

16. This seems so logical to me that other planets would have water, comets are loaded with frozen water

and our little solar system certainly isn't the only place in the vast universe to have comets flying about. I would imagine regarding the paragraph below, when the comets smacked in to Mars, there was enough energy created to melt the water and some of it seeped below ground before the water could refreeze, this being the case if Mars never had an atmosphere that could support enough heat to keep water in it's liquid form on the surface.

"We're looking to understand the history of the ice, by trying to figure out if this ice has ever melted, and through melting has created a liquid environment that modifies soil," he said.

But this is a cool discovery, thanks for the thread, bigworld.

[mcg]

17. "Hmmm, a bouquet of mineral flavors with a hint of life."

Phoenix lander, connoisseur

[lovuian]

18. well if there is water on Mars then perhaps there is life out there

you will see more and more evidence that Life may exist in outer space...

the government is preparing the public for the possibility that there is other life forms out there

[psychopomp]

21. Unfortunately, Spirit does not have the ability to detect biological life

and will have to look for chemical traces that indicate the presence of life. We will have to wait for the next lander to uncork that bottle!