Tucson (AZ) – NASA on Thursday said that its Phoenix Mars Lander has identified water, a requirement for life as we know it, in a soil sample. Heating of samples and resulting vapor led scientists to conclude that it has touched Martian water for the first time.  

A group led by William Boynton of the University of Arizona said that the soil sample came from a trench. At a depth of about 2”, Phoenix’ robotic arm hit a hard layer of frozen soil. Initial attempts to retrieve samples of the icy soil failed as they got stuck in the arm’s scoop. Over a period of two days, some of the water in the sample apparently vaporized and enables Phoenix to analyze it.

The soil sample came from a trench approximately 2 inches deep. When the robotic arm first reached that depth, it hit a hard layer of frozen soil. Two attempts to deliver samples of icy soil on days when fresh material was exposed were foiled when the samples became stuck inside the scoop. Most of the material in Wednesday's sample had been exposed to the air for two days, letting some of the water in the sample vaporize away and making the soil easier to handle.

"We've seen evidence for this water ice before in observations by the Mars Odyssey orbiter and in disappearing chunks observed by Phoenix last month, but this is the first time Martian water has been touched and tasted," said Boynton, who is in charge for the lander’s thermal and evolved-gas analyzer (TEGA).

"The details and patterns we see in the ground show an ice-dominated terrain as far as the eye can see," said Mark Lemmon of Texas A&M University, lead scientist for Phoenix' surface stereo imager camera. "They help us plan measurements we're making within reach of the robotic arm and interpret those measurements on a wider scale."

Since its landing on May 25, Phoenix has been studying soil with a chemistry lab, TEGA, a microscope, a conductivity probe and cameras. Besides confirming the 2002 finding from orbit of water ice near the surface and deciphering the newly observed stickiness, the science team is trying to determine whether the water ice ever thaws enough to be available for biology and if carbon-containing chemicals and other raw materials for life are present.

"Mars is giving us some surprises," said Phoenix principal investigator Peter Smith of the University of Arizona. "We're excited because surprises are where discoveries come from. One surprise is how the soil is behaving. The ice-rich layers stick to the scoop when poised in the sun above the deck, different from what we expected from all the Mars simulation testing we've done. That has presented challenges for delivering samples, but we're finding ways to work with it and we're gathering lots of information to help us understand this soil."

The new results prompted NASA to extend funding for the Phoenix mission through Sept. 30. The original prime mission of three months ends in late August.

"Phoenix is healthy and the projections for solar power look good, so we want to take full advantage of having this resource in one of the most interesting locations on Mars," said Michael Meyer, chief scientist for the Mars Exploration Program at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
    

So What !

Aug 01, 2008 07:22     

They spent 500 million to find water. We have plenty of water here on earth Let us know when they find oil. They show this on TV like the American public wants to know know or even cares about Mars. The only ones who are thrilled are the scientists. And they want to justify wasting billions of tax dollars on space exploration because they have a curiosity. Make no sense to me.
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Re: So What !

Aug 01, 2008 07:56     

>They spent 500 million to find water. We have plenty of water here on earth Let us know when they find oil. Nope. The oil is in Titan, Saturn.
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Re: So What !

Aug 01, 2008 09:40     

Well, given that we spend that much per day in Iraq and we're getting zero oil out of that, I think a little exploration that inspires and unites people can't be all bad.
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re:so what!

Aug 01, 2008 10:02     

You know if Christopher Columbus had that mentality you would be speaking Spanish right now.
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Re: So What !

Aug 01, 2008 10:28     

The results might be insignificant, and the point is definitely NOT about Earth not having enough water. Ever since the exploration of space, humans had been trying hard to solve the ultimate question, i.e. are we alone in space? but blah, I guess you are just gonna worry about your gas bills, so nevermind.
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RE: So What !

Aug 01, 2008 10:39     

Are you serious??? Please tell me that you're just kidding. Space discoveries are very exciting and not just to scientists, I am very excited about this discovery. Yes, they satisfy curiosity but they are actually moving humanity forward to possible future use of that space. How do you suppose we can ever put other planets to use without exploring them, use their resources, maybe even ihabit them??? By the way you're thinking, you wouldn't be sitting in North America now (I assume you're from there) but somewhere in Eurasia, because Italy would spend tax money on wine-making instead of sending Columbus on a voyage... Ehh, it's sad reading posts like yours but something tells me it was just a provocation...

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seriously?

Aug 01, 2008 11:38     

Why exactly do we care? I mean, its all well and good that we are looking to expanding to other planets, and I'm excited for the scientists who will get us there. But really... by the time we get the ability to send a large team to be sent over there we wont need water, we will make our own water, and change the surface to the way that suits us, it really dosnt matter how things are on there now.
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RE: seriously?

Aug 01, 2008 12:10     

We will make our own water? Change the surface? You actually think we'll be able to terraform a planet faster than getting ppl there? You wrote "by the time we get the ability to send a large team to be sent over there"...if you read around you'll find that plans for sending humans to Mars suggest such a voyage within the next 2-3 decades...I doubt we'll have abilities you speak of. Heck, making water...by re-arranging atoms of other objects I suppose? Technology like this is waaaay beyound 2-3 decades, if at all possible, I don't know I'm not a physicist. So I wouldn't count on crews going to Mars and being able to make their own water there with a portable device at least in the next few decades.

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RE: RE: seriously?

Aug 01, 2008 12:56     

Heck, making water...by re-arranging atoms of other objects I suppose? Well we can and have done exactly that, but only on a very small scale with very large equipment so relying on that method for a water source isn't feasible. The Immediate repercussions of this discovery is that there may be life, also there may be a source of fresh water on Mars. If such a source exists then that could save alot of space on the mission to mars...you only need to bring enough water for the trip there...then collect it from the surface for the return trip. If anybody knows how a budget works for space missions there is a direct correlation between launch cost and weight...if the rocket weighs less than we can use smaller rockets...less fuel...we need smaller tanks for the fuel all in all with water being very dense it would save a huge chunk of "tax payer" money to just get the return-home water from Mars while we are there.

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what did it heat it with?

Aug 01, 2008 13:57     

what did the heat it with? Could the material have the basic elements of water that was combined when heated? Water does not necessarily mean life (at least as we know it).
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RE: what did it heat it with?

Aug 01, 2008 14:38     

Could the material have the basic elements of water that was combined when heated? No..just ..no Water does not necessarily mean life (at least as we know it). No but it does mean that there is the possibility of life...silicon based life forms could exist theoretically and they wouldn't need water.
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Martian bottle water company

Aug 01, 2008 20:31     

100% Pure non recycled water. Good for you.
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H20 Hoe

Aug 02, 2008 21:02     

Really, no one cares about waTer on planets anymore, its all about tiny transistors on a waFer that transcribe the secrets of entertainment : "The future is here" For that is where corporations say our Freedom is at. Basterds Its not about water, but wafer
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terraform?

Aug 03, 2008 20:48     

I think they are planning to terraform Mars as early as possible so that it can create a hospitable athmosphere and sell it to exclusive people :)
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