Posted on 01/19/2024 8:27:16 PM PST by Red Badger
ESA's Mars Express spacecraft has made a significant breakthrough in our understanding of Mars's hydrological history by uncovering extensive layers of water ice at the planet's equator. This finding, derived from new data analysis by the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding (MARSIS), suggests the presence of ice layers stretching several kilometers below the surface in the Medusae Fossae Formation (MFF). Over a decade ago, initial studies by Mars Express pointed to the existence of massive deposits in the MFF, as deep as 2.5 kilometers. However, the composition of these deposits remained a mystery until now. "We've explored the MFF again using newer data from Mars Express's MARSIS radar, and found the deposits to be even thicker than we thought: up to 3.7 km thick," revealed Thomas Watters of the Smithsonian Institution, USA, who led both the current and initial 2007 studies. He further noted that the radar signals were consistent with what would be expected from layered ice, drawing parallels to the signals from Mars's ice-rich polar caps.
The implications of this discovery are far-reaching. If melted, the ice within the MFF could cover Mars in a water layer approximately 1.5 to 2.7 meters deep. To put this in perspective, this quantity of water is sufficient to fill Earth's Red Sea, marking it as the most significant water reservoir ever found in this region of Mars.
The composition of the MFF, which spans hundreds of kilometers and rises several kilometers high, was previously thought to be either windblown dust, volcanic ash, or sediment. But new insights from the Mars Express's MARSIS radar paint a different picture. "This would create something far denser than what we actually see with MARSIS. And when we modelled how different ice-free materials would behave, nothing reproduced the properties of the MFF - we need ice," explained co-author Andrea Cicchetti of the National Institute for Astrophysics, Italy.
The new findings suggest a combination of dust and ice layers, topped by a dry dust or ash layer several hundred meters thick. This structure challenges previous understandings and hints at a complex climatic history for Mars. Colin Wilson, ESA project scientist for Mars Express and the ESA ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), emphasized the importance of these findings: "If confirmed to be water ice, these massive deposits would change our understanding of Mars climate history."
The presence of such vast ice deposits near Mars's equator is particularly intriguing because they could not have formed under the planet's current climate conditions, suggesting a significant shift in the Martian climate over time. These discoveries also have practical implications for future Mars exploration. As missions typically aim to land near the equator, far from the ice-rich polar regions, the presence of accessible water ice would be invaluable for human exploration.
However, accessing these MFF deposits poses a challenge, as they are buried under hundreds of meters of dust. Despite this, the continued mapping of Mars's water resources, including the recent discovery by TGO's FREND instrument of a hydrogen-rich area the size of the Netherlands in the Valles Marineris, is crucial for building a comprehensive understanding of the planet's water history.
Water on Mars!...................
This was strongly suspected as early as the Viking project. Some landforms on Mars strongly resemble erosional channels, and the assumed source of the water was subsurface ice melted by impacts.
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I also think having a satellite in every single acre of sky is way stupid. The amount of space trash up there is incredible.
It was a divine gift that our astronauts back in the day had so few casualties, and that no Americans are out there frozen like popsicles, something we could all ponder when looking out at a beautiful sky.
Going to Mars is especially stupid, you can get triaxles full of the same dirt by just going to Georgia.
Robots and remote control devices could, I suppose, accomplish whatever was needed science-wise.
I would hope that a lot of the intellectual evolution of mankind going forward would allow people to understand what a fool's errand manned space flight is.
And how we just don't have the money for it. We really don't.
While there MIGHT be water on Mars, locked deep in the soil, the billions (trillions) of dollars it would take to find a single cup makes it a jobs for future generations, maybe.
This is idiocy!
Mare did not have sufficient mass to retain its atmosphere and is too far from the sun for photosynthesis to be robustly supported.
But let Elon Musk & his ilk make that trip.
Getting to that water would require some “heavy lifting” flights to Mars to transport and land the drilling equipment needed to reach the water. Then there would be the need for the energy supply(ies) to power that heavy equipment.
Knowing it - the water - is there does not solve many issues about getting to it.
Currently it appears the scientific experts at NASA can’t even get us to the moon. We’ve gone backwards since this was achieved over 50 years ago. I guess the Muslims that Obama brought in are still learning the ropes.
❗❗❗ Yep 👌 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I watch these science shows and listen to these 'astro physicists' talk about all the new technology that they expect in order to explain the creation of the universe, the galaxies, the solar systems and planets.
Meanwhile our govt is creating mammoth piles of wealth out of thin air without any Congressional input . . . and we wonder where inflation is coming from. Right now more and more families are facing dire economic straights concerning how to feed themselves, provide shelter and living necessities and worrying about the future.
Understanding the physics of our universe and how it all fits together is a laudable goal - but, as you imply, it is an infinite study that we can not really afford at the level we are now spending. The day may come when humankind will walk on Mars but humanity's immediate needs right now are more pressing. It is no accident that it has been over 50 years since man walked on the moon: the cost is more than we can afford!
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