For other space news go to: http://www.spacetoday.net
Posted on 09/14/2009 4:49:23 PM PDT by KevinDavis
Mars, Earth’s arid red neighbor, may have had a more active past than previously believed.
UT research scientist John Holt and his team have found large reserves of ice buried under rock near the mid-latitudes of Mars, which could mean the planet was once flowing with water.
“We haven’t found any evidence of liquid water on Mars yet,” said Holt, who presented his findings Friday. “But it is a possibility.”
(Excerpt) Read more at dailytexanonline.com ...
The important thing is that it makes sustaining a manned outpost there much simpler.
Yes — and not just for the sustainability of an outpost. The water can be used to manufacture fuel for return trips.
Gotta dig deeper, lots deeper.
Titan has oceans of hydrocarbons, can’t you use that to make fuel?
By the time you get to Titan you’re looking at that fuel costing thousands if not millions of dollars per gallon if you plan to ship it back to earth.
That isn’t to say that it will be useless but its a looooong way down the rd.
We’ll never know until we go there, and geologists start working.
The “ice” is probably dry ice (frozen CO2). The main component of the martian atmosphere is CO2 and it the whole planet freezes every night.
 |
||
| · join · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post new topic · subscribe · | ||
| Google news searches: exoplanet · exosolar · extrasolar · | ||
/mark for later
Thanks for the ping. I’d very much like to be on this ping list; very interesting.
While this news is months or more old, and the article quoted does not say specifically, the compound is H2O, not dry ice. Discovery made by mars polar lander.
Heh... this is one of the four you joined yesterday. :’) I think you’re only the second FReeper to join all four at the same time. Y’know, willingly...
 |
||
| · join · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post new topic · subscribe · | ||
Everyone knows there is life on Mars. How else could H.G. Wells have written his book? He KNEW!!!!
:laughing uncontrollably:
Uh-boy.
(You love me and you know it!!)
:dying, here:
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.