Water on Mars...?

Question

Are they jumping to conclusions about this?
It could be anything (a smudge, even) but if this true, then what kind of life, I wonder, once existed there.
And could there be life again?

Answer 1

SPACE.com has learned that NASA hasdiscovered evidence of water on the Red Planets surface. The finding, made bythe Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft, fuels hopes that there may be life onMars.


Mars Looms Large
NASA Chief: Mars Troubles Not Due to Lack of Funding: Daniel S.Goldin told the House Science Committee Tuesday that the space agency's recent loss of two missions to Mars was not the result of a tight budget at the space agency. Want to Learn More?

Study Shows Public Supports Mars Trip: A healthy majority of the public is ready to give the thumbs-up on sending U.S. astronauts to Mars. Theyare also backing the building of a space station. Those are among the findings of a wide-ranging survey released by the National Science Board, a governing body of the National Science Foundation (NSF). Want to Learn More?


Sources close to theagencys Mars program said the discovery involves evidence of seasonal depositsthat could be associated with springs on the planets surface.

NASA plans to make theblockbuster announcement during a press conference scheduled for June 29,sources said.

The discovery, ifconfirmed, would mark the achievement of a primary goal in NASAs program toexplore Mars.

NASAs ambitious plans forMars focus on gaining an understanding of the potential for either past orpresent life on the planet. The program also aims to improve sciencesunderstanding of Mars climate and its resources.

Key to all three themes iswater: Where and when it may have flowed in the past, where it might lurk todayand in which forms and what quantities.

NASA scientists on the MarsGlobal Surveyor team declined to comment, pending the press conference andsubsequent publication in the journal Science of a paper on thediscovery.

Ed Weiler, NASA associateadministrator for space science, told the National Academy of Sciences SpaceStudies Board on June 14 that the Mars program needs a clear-cut vision. Thereal reason to go is to find out if life is there or not, he said.

"To meet thatlong-term mission requires that you follow the water. Without water there is notlifethere was not life," Weiler said. "By following the water, itall fits together. So for the first time, we have a really good, clear,long-term vision for Mars."

Water most likely flowed inthe distant past on Mars, carving channels and other features clearly visibleon its surface. But other than in the form of clouds and ice, liquid watercannot exist on the planets surface today, thanks to the thinness of itsatmosphere.

Scientists havehypothesized that vast stores of water could still persist beneath the surfaceof Mars.



NASA has suggested that certain martian features, as seen in this 1997 image, may indicate fluid seepage.

Answer 2

There is water on Mars, we've known that for years. There's vapor in the air and even polar ice caps.

What's important about this is that there appears to be LIQUID water on Mars. Flowing, moving, churining, liquid water.

Liquid water could very well mean the possibility of life and perhaps some limited forms of vegitation.

I'm not saying that's what it means, just that there's an outside chance. What they're concerned with in that picture is that some of the objects have moved and moved around objects and obstructions, as if it had been floating.

The Earth is unique, if you needed the Bible to tell you that, you are seriously lacking in something I call 'basic reasoning'. But we're all unique, that doesn't mean any one of us is less important or alive.

The Bible also says the world has four corners. I'll give you a quarter if you go bring one back for me.

Answer 3

SPACE.com has learned that NASA hasdiscovered evidence of water on the Red Planets surface. The finding, made bythe Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft, fuels hopes that there may be life onMars.


Mars Looms Large
NASA Chief: Mars Troubles Not Due to Lack of Funding: Daniel S.Goldin told the House Science Committee Tuesday that the space agency's recent loss of two missions to Mars was not the result of a tight budget at the space agency. Want to Learn More?

Study Shows Public Supports Mars Trip: A healthy majority of the public is ready to give the thumbs-up on sending U.S. astronauts to Mars. Theyare also backing the building of a space station. Those are among the findings of a wide-ranging survey released by the National Science Board, a governing body of the National Science Foundation (NSF). Want to Learn More?


Sources close to theagencys Mars program said the discovery involves evidence of seasonal depositsthat could be associated with springs on the planets surface.

NASA plans to make theblockbuster announcement during a press conference scheduled for June 29,sources said.

The discovery, ifconfirmed, would mark the achievement of a primary goal in NASAs program toexplore Mars.

NASAs ambitious plans forMars focus on gaining an understanding of the potential for either past orpresent life on the planet. The program also aims to improve sciencesunderstanding of Mars climate and its resources.

Key to all three themes iswater: Where and when it may have flowed in the past, where it might lurk todayand in which forms and what quantities.

NASA scientists on the MarsGlobal Surveyor team declined to comment, pending the press conference andsubsequent publication in the journal Science of a paper on thediscovery.

Ed Weiler, NASA associateadministrator for space science, told the National Academy of Sciences SpaceStudies Board on June 14 that the Mars program needs a clear-cut vision. Thereal reason to go is to find out if life is there or not, he said.

"To meet thatlong-term mission requires that you follow the water. Without water there is notlifethere was not life," Weiler said. "By following the water, itall fits together. So for the first time, we have a really good, clear,long-term vision for Mars."

Water most likely flowed inthe distant past on Mars, carving channels and other features clearly visibleon its surface. But other than in the form of clouds and ice, liquid watercannot exist on the planets surface today, thanks to the thinness of itsatmosphere.

Scientists havehypothesized that vast stores of water could still persist beneath the surfaceof Mars.



NASA has suggested that certain martian features, as seen in this 1997 image, may indicate fluid seepage.

Answer 4

its a very intresting question. If we find water on mars it does not mean (1) there has been life on mars in the past. (2) human life can exist on mars. BUT the discovery of water on mars will will be a great achievement. we live in a modern world with everything to make the impossible possible. if we find water plus no life on mars we will have to make life possible on mars. according to my knowledge there are some signs on mars that indicate that the may have been water on mars. the other problem after water will be of oxygen, we have plenty of hydrogen and Carbondioxide on mars that can we converted into oxygen by planting trees on mars (tress need carbondioxide to grow and they produce oxygen).
Yes! i think so (according to my knowledge) there will be life on mars but the living conditions may be very difficult. it would be like to create the world once again.
the sad thing is that we may not be able to see life on mars in our lives because this process may take about next 100 years or more....thank you!

Answer 5

Water is simply hydrogen and oxygen. Mars is cold, below the freezing point of water. So, what's the big deal. Water means water, it does not mean any type of life exists or existed there, and definately doesn't relate to life as we know it on earth. The Bible tells me the earth is unique and I see no reason to doubt that.

Answer 6

No, I believe there is some water remaining on mars...
There may even be some microscopic life...

Answer 7

I dont think so there is some water not even a single drop because there are many active volcanoes there.

Answer 8

sure. in case you regarded on the documents you'll see the robotic took images of a few bits of white stuff that disappears over the approach some hours. it is curiously absolutely ice.

Answer 9

http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-confirms-evidence-that-liquid-water-flows-on-today-s-mars

Answer 10

if there's water... there's life

I'm waiting for any news 'bout our new friend in Mars