The recent discovery of water ice on Mars by the Phoenix Mars Lander has spurred thoughts that there may be microbial life forms on Mars. This discovery has also greatly increased the chances of a human expedition to the red planet.
  In photo’s taken on Mars of meteor crash sites and also of holes dug by the Phoenix Mars Lander, there was a blue and white substance, which in later pictures seemed to have disappeared. Scientists believe that this was in fact water ice. Scientists say that if this substance had been salt then the crystals wouldn’t have disappeared and if the ice was made of Carbon Dioxide then it would not have vaporized. They believe that this substance was in fact water ice that later evaporated because of the exposure to the Mars atmosphere.
  Although many other satellites sent to orbit Mars have reported that there could be ice beneath the surface, this is the first direct finding of ice by a Mars probe at ground level.
  However, just because there may be water ice on Mars does not mean that it is completely hospitable. There has to be some kind of carbon chain materials for humans to eat. Without any of these materials, there is no food and no food means no energy.
  Scientists now plan to analyze the ice to find out what other chemicals, minerals and organic compounds are in with the water. They will do this by using the oven instrument, originally designed for baking dirt and studying the fumes, to find out more about this water ice. They will also be using the onboard microscopy, Electrochemistry and Conductivity Analyzer to find out all they can about the water ice. Through these processes they hope to find out just how old this ice is and how it was originally formed.

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