Ice on Mars: More Than They Ever Thought

Just imagine what we will learn tomorrow. I firmly believe in Manned
space flight, but the robotic missions
have, since the Apollo program, generated the most exciting findings.
The Hubble pictures, The first mars rover, Cassini, Mariner 1 & 2, Galileo,
Mars Orbiter, Asteriod landing, Hoygens,
The list goes on and on. I can't wait
for the Pluto mission to see what that
looks like. WOW...
Keep NASA's funding strong..It's part of
our national pride. We can't let the Chinese become the leaders in space exploration.

It it had been so, it would have been very different
in our exploration of Solar system. In the last 30 years, we could have done more with our ever-changing technologies if we had discovered water on Mars. But this is science. We sometimes miss an
opportunity and later find it out.

It's hard to believe that _ALL_ Martian water was lost to the solar wind. Venus has been losing atmosphere to the solar wind for billions of years, it's many times closer to the sun, with no magnetic field to speak of, and its atmosphere is still 80+ times as dense as the Earth's. There's almost certainly vast underground seepage reserves of ice on Mars, and once humans establish a permanent presence and mine (pump if warm enough) the ice (water), it will be found to be plentiful. We need to go much deeper than just a few feet (inches?) below the surface.

Just as the New World dominated European affairs in the 15th to 18th centuries, and the American West dominated U.S. affairs in the 19th century, space exploration will dominate the entire world's affairs at some point in the future. It should be a vital national interest right now - unfortunately, it oftens takes a back seat because many don't see how it can benefit us immediately. Imagine Columbus being refused funding for his first voyage (as he was) and it's easy to see how our short-sightedness in limiting funding towards space exploration now is foolish.

Lets go to the moon first, get the space exploration details worked out and then head to Mars. Those technology drivers will keep our national economy viable for many decades to come.

If we don't invest in Mars and Lunar exploration NOW, we will never do it. This is the last opportunity for the current "intelligent" life forms on earth to burst forth, barring some miracle of energy breakthrough.

Like the movie,"Dr. Strangelove, or how we learned to love the bomb," let me sing a little song:

'We'll meet again, don't know where or when, but we'll meet again someday, far away."

Good luck, and good night.

I think rather than the mantra "Follow the water" NASA needs to change it to "Follow the liquid water". If a place is found on Mars that has liquid water and has been stable for a long time(Geologic time scale here)life must be there.

Given the persistence and pervasiveness of life, I find it difficult to believe that life is nowhere to be found on Mars.

I am agree with Alan's comments. It good time to explore the Mars.

AHHH, AT LAST! "MOON BEER!"

and then.... "MARS LITE!"

What an exciting time to be alive! To see the pioneering advances at the very beginning of humanity's steps beyond our home world, really moves me. Reminds me of a quote I once heard, and I can't remember who it's attributed to, "The Earth is a cradle and man just a child, but a child cannot remain in the cradle forever."

Is there any ideas about life on Mars?