Phoenix Mars Lander Discovers Ice On Mars

Like many a space geek out there, I follow the Mars Phoenix Lander's Twitter feed for up to the minute info on what nifty things we're discovering on Mars, and imagine my joy at getting this little gem of a tweet last night:

Are you ready to celebrate? Well, get ready: We have ICE!!!!! Yes, ICE, *WATER ICE* on Mars! w00t!!! Best day ever!!

That's right folks, the Mars Phoenix Lander just said "w00t."

I <3 NASA.

The important part of that, of course, is that we found up close and personal proof of H20 ice on Mars, an incredibly important find if we're to establish a Mars base in the future.

Further information on this great discovery can be found over at the Phoenix Mars Lander's site:

Dice-size crumbs of bright material have vanished from inside a trench where they were photographed by NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander four days ago, convincing scientists that the material was frozen water that vaporized after digging exposed it.

"It must be ice," said Phoenix Principal Investigator Peter Smith of the University of Arizona, Tucson. "These little clumps completely disappearing over the course of a few days, that is perfect evidence that it's ice. There had been some question whether the bright material was salt. Salt can't do that."

For those questioning if it might be C02 ice instead of H20 ice, the Phoenix Lander answered that via tweet as well:

CO2 vs. H20 ice: Temp too high and pressure too low for CO2 ice. Sci team explains at 10a PDT/1p EDT live audio here: www.nasa.gov/newsaudio

Keep up the great work, NASA!

Bright Chunks at Phoenix Lander's Mars Site Must Have Been Ice [NASA]