August 2, 2008

Phoenix Found More Than Water on Mars

White House Briefed On Potential For Mars Life

"The White House has been alerted by NASA about plans to make an announcement soon on major new Phoenix lander discoveries concerning the "potential for life" on Mars, scientists tell Aviation Week & Space Technology. Sources say the new data do not indicate the discovery of existing or past life on Mars. Rather the data relate to habitability--the "potential" for Mars to support life--at the Phoenix arctic landing site, sources say. The data are much more complex than results related NASA's July 31 announcement that Phoenix has confirmed the presence of water ice at the site."


Posted by kcowing at August 2, 2008 10:25 AM
Comments

After reading about the NSSC and the layoffs,both tragic news, this piece was uplifing. Can't wait to hear more.

Posted by: an employee at August 1, 2008 11:51 PM

Leave it to NASA's Science programs and robotic exploration program. Without this, you really have nothing. Why don't the yahoos managing the Agency recognize this instead of pouring $ down uninspiring endeavors.

Posted by: Sc220 at August 2, 2008 9:28 AM

I hope the 'face on Mars' crowd doesn't get ahold of that image of the trench. It looks like an long-range aerial shot of an archaeological dig...

As for the real news, I hope it lives up to the hype. NASA needs to be careful about arousing expectations that it may not be able to meet.

Posted by: Bob Mahoney at August 2, 2008 1:24 PM

Given the science track record of the current Administration, any announcement with White House input is tainted. Even if it's not spectacular news, the mere appearance of having the information "vetted" by these yo-yos will make the likes of Richard C. Hoagland go on and on and on for years to come.

Posted by: Corry Lee Smith at August 2, 2008 11:09 PM

It's good that the question has finally been answered. However, it's not all that simple. They've also found an oxidizing substance that they say is "detrimental" to us. We've got a long way to go before we can actually see a benefit in the red planet.

Posted by: Custom Window Treatments at August 4, 2008 8:19 PM
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