Curiosity's SAM Instrument Finds Water and More in Surface Sample

[kpete]

Curiosity's SAM Instrument Finds Water and More in Surface Sample
Sept 26, 2013

The first scoop of soil analyzed by the analytical suite in the belly of NASA's Curiosity rover reveals that fine materials on the surface of the planet contain several percent water by weight. The results were published today in Science as one article in a five-paper special section on the Curiosity mission.

"One of the most exciting results from this very first solid sample ingested by Curiosity is the high percentage of water in the soil," said Laurie Leshin, lead author of one paper and dean of the School Science at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. "About 2 percent of the soil on the surface of Mars is made up of water, which is a great resource, and interesting scientifically." The sample also released significant carbon dioxide, oxygen and sulfur compounds when heated.


more, plus pics:
http://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/curiositys-sam-instrument-finds-water-and-more-in-surface-sample/#.UkWHnNLBPHQ

[Baclava]

1. water, alright! time to terraform it all - send up the colonists!

and I wish they'd change up the puttering around on the surface and go explore those underground lava tubes - that's where I'd go looking for water











Entrance to Mars Cave

NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter took this photo of a cave skylight on the southeastern flank of Pavonis Mons, a large volcano in Mars' Tharsis Region. The pit is about 180 meters wide.



Mysterious Mars Skylight



http://www.space.com/18519-mars-caves-lava-tubes-photos.html

[longship]

2. Nope! Those are sand worms.

Couldn't resist.

[Baclava]

3. I was thinking underground alien bases