Nasa's lander samples Mars water

[Notebook]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7536123.stm

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

N.

 

[Pilot7893]

:OMG:

 

[Zatnikitelman]

'bout damn time. We knew there was water up there we just didn't have confirmation. So NOW I can celebrate...WOOHOO YEEHAAA YIPPIE KAI YAY WOOHOO! WATER!
ahem...
So how does it look for life now? I saw in the article that it said 3 or 4 weeks for organic compounds, but heck, anything with carbon is technically organic...

 

[Kyle]

Nice, As we know, were there's water, theres life. And I am willing to bet that they will find Microorganism such as bacteria in the water, Hence, Life on Mars.

 

[Andy44]

Nice, As we know, were there's water, theres life. And I am willing to bet that they will find Microorganism such as bacteria in the water, Hence, Life on Mars.

A bold wager, sir! We shall see...although keep in mind that Phoenix is not equipped to look for microbes, so you may have to wait a few years.

 

[Kyle]

A bold wager, sir! We shall see...although keep in mind that Phoenix is not equipped to look for microbes, so you may have to wait a few years.

Doesn't it have Microscopes and stuff?

 

[Andy44]

According to NASA, it is only equipped to find organic compounds by baking samples in its little "ovens" and using sensors to sniff the resulting chemicals.

Given the smarts of the scientists involved, though, they may find a way yet to get more out of the data and the hardware they have. But even if they think they've found life, they won't say a word until it's ironclad. Too many ways to shoot yourself in the foot and ruin your career by jumping the gun on such a bold proclamation.

 

[Spicer]

I was excited when I first read the report. My feelings later changed when I realized that it's been thought for hundreds of years that there was running water on Mars.

I'm really happy to hear it was confirmed. It's scientific evidence, but I'm waiting for the first microbes.

You also know what microbes will mean...it'll mean that we can't pollute the environment of Mars. All of our tree-hugging hippie friends will say that we have no right to alter the environment of Mars.

Screw you hippies!!!

 

[Lunar_Lander]

Just heard it on the radio and it completely blew me away. Congratulations to NASA and the Phoenix team for the greatest scientific discovery in the history of Mars research !

How exactly could Phoenix search for microbes with the possibilities it has aboard?

 

[MAPitard]

According to NASA, it is only equipped to find organic compounds by baking samples in its little "ovens" and using sensors to sniff the resulting chemicals.

The only way to find life is to bake it alive... :rofl:

 

[Andy44]

to NASA and the Phoenix team for the greatest scientific discovery in the history of Mars research

I'll sleep a whole lot better when they figure out what's in here:

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap070528.html

 

[MAPitard]

A giant worm!

 

[TSPenguin]

I'll sleep a whole lot better when they figure out what's in here:

That is the place where the mars rovers breed!

The really interesting part is still to come, the detailed analysis. I am eager to know what is in this water. It will be hard to specify as they only have a little ice and a lot of rock in the oven right now. But with the mission extension, I hope they'll get a clean cut of ice in there.

 

[Thunder Chicken]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/01/science/space/01mars.html

Hmmm...they say that stuff cooked off at 32 F. Anybody know how they controlled the pressure (or maybe they didn't, since the sublimation line is relatively flat)?

 

[Moonwalker]

Since we almost know that Mars has frozen polar regions basically of CO2 but also a little bit of water, it is not a miracle that we now have the final evidence of a little bit of frozen water.

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

Habitable for whom? There are certain reasons which show us already why Mars is not habited like our Earth. The atmopspheric pressure on Mars is only 0,75% of the Earth's pressure (corresponds to an altitude of 35km MSL on the Earth) and it won't get more because of the slight gravity of Mars and also because of solar winds. The temperature differences on the surface is 100°C within 23 hours (on the equator).

I wonder what journalists/scientists mean by "habitable"...

 

[Zatnikitelman]

Looks like they've found something else...BIGGER than water.
http://www.astroengine.com/?p=596
Given that that's not mainstream media, it may or may not be true, but if it is...

 

[Andy44]

I smell BS.

 

[spcefrk]

"Mr President we found complex Amino Acids that could support life on Mars. We felt this to be a national security issue and necessary to inform you while we confirm our findings"

"Ameana Assid? I've never been nothin but nice to you people!"

 

[Spicer]

I'll sleep a whole lot better when they figure out what's in here:

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap070528.html

That is the place where the OTHER sock goes. You all know what I'm talking about. That one that you know you put in the wash. It's there, with the water on Mars.

 

[Pilot7893]

I'll sleep a whole lot better when they figure out what's in here

I can't say or else Tex will ban me