Terraforming of Mars

[kmguru]

Since we found Water/Ice on Mars, is it time to think about such things? Can we use the solar cells to extract Oxygen and Hydrogen for rocket fuel and may be make some food there?

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/terraforming-hswmars.jpg

Terraforming Mars (http://science.howstuffworks.com/terraforming.htm)

[kmguru]

http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/234082main_under-427.jpg

Camera on Arm Looks Beneath NASA Mars Lander
05.31.08 -- A view of the ground underneath NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander adds to evidence that descent thrusters dispersed overlying soil and exposed a harder substrate that may be ice.

[draqon]

http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/234082main_under-427.jpg

Camera on Arm Looks Beneath NASA Mars Lander
05.31.08 -- A view of the ground underneath NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander adds to evidence that descent thrusters dispersed overlying soil and exposed a harder substrate that may be ice.

Are you serious? :eek: Because those look just like ordinary rocks on Mars...from the pictures I seen from Spirit and Opportunity?

[cosmictraveler]

They haven't determined that it is actually water as yet. It could be frozen carbon dioxide which means no oxygen or water there. :shrug:

[draqon]

They haven't determined that it is actually water as yet. It could be frozen carbon dioxide which means no oxygen or water there. :shrug:

in that part of the region of Aurelis Borealis, water ice is on the top.

[cosmictraveler]

Can you provide a link that confirms that they found water there with the Phoenix?

[draqon]

Can you provide a link that confirms that they found water there with the Phoenix?

emmm no not really...but I can provide you with a link of hydrogen location over at Aurelis Borealis as mapped by Odyssey 2001...and that hydrogen is most likely locked as water ice (as believed by scientists)

http://www.fas.org/irp/imint/docs/rst/Sect19/End_Water_Ice_1_040820205922.jpg

http://www.fas.org/irp/imint/docs/rst/Sect19/Sect19_13a.html

[cosmictraveler]

So we need to confirm scientists "beliefs" with the Phoenix probe correct?

[draqon]

So we need to confirm scientists "beliefs" with the Phoenix probe correct?

well the probability of hydrogen being locked in water ice molecule on Mars are more than belivable to be seen as truth...so it is accepted as water ice already. But yes if Spirit identifies it as water ice, it would be a good sign...although Oddysey 2001 already showed us that.

[draqon]

In many of the studies I did on Mars it becomes more clear to me that Mars is "skin deep"...dig just a bit of centimeters below its dust and the planet looks totally different, with water ice being prevalent.

[draqon]

And I mean the image of the crater in Vastitas Borealis already showed that there is water ice with some azure pictures as these (Mars Express):

http://www.astro.virginia.edu/class/oconnell/astr121/im/ice-in-crater-Mexpress-lg.jpg

[cosmictraveler]

Frozen carbon dioxide looks very similar.

[draqon]

Frozen carbon dioxide looks very similar.

yeah but in that area the concentration of water ice is above 60%. The probability of it being water ice are higher.

[kmguru]

There is no Hydrogen in CO2...as the spectra shows. But we should know in about a week for sure....if the gas analyzer works!

[draqon]

There is no Hydrogen in CO2...as the spectra shows. But we should know in about a week for sure....if the gas analyzer works!

well they did say it shortcicuited and one filament of the apparutus went haywire...so they are using a backup filament.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j1hvRUNc9W-3lupLU6TLQtR0gdRAD9109IG80