Water confirmed on Mars
August 4th 2008 08:07
Martian Midnight sun
Phoenix landed on Mars two months ago. Equipped with a telescoping arm to enable it to scoop up soil samples so they can be analysed by the spacecraft's onboard instruments. Its mission has been extended. All onboard systems are operating and the projections for solar power look good.
On Wednesday July 30, Phoenix scientist William Boyton said they were able to thaw a soil sample using phoenix mini oven and confirmed that it contained frozen water.
Scooping up a soil sample that is about to be tested
Scooping the martian soil
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 evaporated making the soil easier to handle.
Other minerals essential for sustaining life have also been found. Other compounds including sodium, potassium, magnesium and fluorides have been found. However as yet no organic materials discovered.
Phoenix is examining the sky as well as the ground. A Canadian instrument is using a laser beam to study dust and clouds overhead.
Are Prolonged Space Missions Necessary?
Having found water on mars is a big step in making a possible manned mars mission. In my opinion a manned mission to mars is not worth the expense given the time the astronauts would have to spend in space the risk of prolonged exposure to radiation, a return trip taking 18 months. With the technology we now have using small robot spacecraft would be a better alternative to space exploration than putting humans in space on long term missions.
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Comment by The wonderful Peter Yang
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Great post
Cheers