Water gushes created "staircases" on Mars: study

Reuters on Yahoo ^ | 2/20/08 | Will Dunham

[NormsRevenge]

A handout of the European Space Agency ESA shows a visualisation of Mars, created from spacecraft imagery. Sudden, tremendous gushes of water from underground most likely carved out unusual fan-shaped geological formations with steps like a staircase long ago on the surface of Mars, scientists said on Wednesday. REUTERS/Ho/European Space Agency

[kinoxi]

"We still really don't know but this sure keeps our funding going."
:)

[kinoxi]

We should have people standing on that planet by now.

[NormsRevenge]

Let the funds flow,, like the waters of Mars once used to.. ;-)

I enjoy looking at all the different shots of stuff on Mars and about the theories of how what got where and why..

The mysterious ridges at the mouth of Tiu Valles
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Express/SEMWZZMPQ5F_0.html

Cydonia’s ‘Face on Mars’ in 3D animation
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Express/SEMINCO7BTE_0.html

The first hiking maps of Mars
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Express/SEMOI5O2UXE_0.html

[Kirkwood]

We should have people AMERICANS standing on that planet by now. Fixed it.

[squidly]

Sheila Jackson Lee says we have.

[kinoxi]

I’m all for exploration. I get tired of endless extrapolation.

[kinoxi]

Yes you did. Quite accurately I might add...

[Kickass Conservative]

AK AK AK AK AK AK AK

[MartinStyles]

We can only hope the democrats don’t kill the future Nasa programs.

[kinoxi]

If given the chance they will.

[kinoxi]

Human expansion and exploration don’t fit the neo communist model. How can they line their pockets in zero g for instance?

[djf]

The ridges are cool.

You know I’ve seen similar type ridges here on Earth. In Northern CA.

Except they weren’t arced, they were rectangular.

They were rice paddies.

[Lester Moore]

I disagree. I've no interest whatsoever of putting a human on that planet and I don't want to pay for your desire to do so.

Please make sure you pay for your martian dream with your own money and not mine.

[hometoroost]

"Sheila Jackson Lee says we have."

She should know - that's her home planet!

[MartinStyles]

Very depressing that people still think that way now. Would you rather the pittance of money that the space program uses go towards more welfare? It’s something that actually shows results, unlike most government non-military programs.

[kinoxi]

Sticking your head in the sand is not a good mentality for your progeny. We cannot stay where we are at in equilibrium. / existentialism. It will pay for itself much earlier and with a much higher yield than current government issued bonds IMO. The money part is why china is racing into a manned program. Get real.

[gigster]

Obviously, Martian glaciers melted due to “Global Warming”.

[Yollopoliuhqui]

I’d like to know if the inundated areas conform to a pattern on Mars’ surface? Are they in a band, in a zone, above or below the equator, and how could water carve out a canyon that is boxed at both ends?

[FR Class of 1998]

Would you rather the pittance of money that the space program uses go towards more welfare?

I'd rather it not be taken out of my pocket in the first place, thank you. I have these silly little concerns like food, clothing, and shelter... hope you can find a place for them in that big government budget.