it may have only been a thin sheet of ice on the Red Planet but it was enough
ice on the Red Planet but it was enough
ice on the Red Planet but it was enough of a discovery to spark a debate as we
of a discovery to spark a debate as we
of a discovery to spark a debate as we know it
know it
know it hi I’m Veronica watchmojo.com and today
hi I’m Veronica watchmojo.com and today
hi I’m Veronica watchmojo.com and today we’re speaking with astronomer Louis
we’re speaking with astronomer Louis
we’re speaking with astronomer Louis Bernstein about what water on Mars could
Bernstein about what water on Mars could
Bernstein about what water on Mars could mean to us today and in the future Mars
mean to us today and in the future Mars
mean to us today and in the future Mars it’s been known for a while might have
it’s been known for a while might have
it’s been known for a while might have water there being a series of space
water there being a series of space
water there being a series of space probes like the most recent the Mars
probes like the most recent the Mars
probes like the most recent the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
Reconnaissance Orbiter
Reconnaissance Orbiter they’ve always seen what appear to be
they’ve always seen what appear to be
they’ve always seen what appear to be gullies and riverbeds and canyons on
gullies and riverbeds and canyons on
gullies and riverbeds and canyons on Mars that look like similar features on
Mars that look like similar features on
Mars that look like similar features on the earth that are being carved by
the earth that are being carved by
the earth that are being carved by flowing water and so it was assumed that
flowing water and so it was assumed that
flowing water and so it was assumed that on Mars water might have flowed in the
on Mars water might have flowed in the
on Mars water might have flowed in the distant past the Mars Reconnaissance
distant past the Mars Reconnaissance
distant past the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is really sophisticated it has
Orbiter is really sophisticated it has
Orbiter is really sophisticated it has very sensitive cameras one of the
very sensitive cameras one of the
very sensitive cameras one of the cameras detected what appeared to be ice
cameras detected what appeared to be ice
cameras detected what appeared to be ice exposed at the bottom of craters that
exposed at the bottom of craters that
exposed at the bottom of craters that were gouged out buying on meteorite
were gouged out buying on meteorite
were gouged out buying on meteorite impacts on Mars so as the meteorite hits
impacts on Mars so as the meteorite hits
impacts on Mars so as the meteorite hits Mars it gouges a hole and Isis brace it
Mars it gouges a hole and Isis brace it
Mars it gouges a hole and Isis brace it from under the surface and on the
from under the surface and on the
from under the surface and on the Reconnaissance orbiters platform there
Reconnaissance orbiters platform there
Reconnaissance orbiters platform there was also a spectrometer which analyzes
was also a spectrometer which analyzes
was also a spectrometer which analyzes the composition of this white icy
the composition of this white icy
the composition of this white icy material and it turns out to be water
material and it turns out to be water
material and it turns out to be water rise scientists were really shocked to
rise scientists were really shocked to
rise scientists were really shocked to discover that this water ice was 99%
discover that this water ice was 99%
discover that this water ice was 99% pure what they mean by that is that
pure what they mean by that is that
pure what they mean by that is that there’s no dirt mixed in there was
there’s no dirt mixed in there was
there’s no dirt mixed in there was recently the discovery of water on the
recently the discovery of water on the
recently the discovery of water on the moon at the bottom of one of the craters
moon at the bottom of one of the craters
moon at the bottom of one of the craters at the moon’s South Pole the ice that
at the moon’s South Pole the ice that
at the moon’s South Pole the ice that was discovered there is really mixed up
was discovered there is really mixed up
was discovered there is really mixed up with a lot of dust and grit on Mars
with a lot of dust and grit on Mars
with a lot of dust and grit on Mars though this ice has next to no dirt
though this ice has next to no dirt
though this ice has next to no dirt mixed in it’s really pure ice you could
mixed in it’s really pure ice you could
mixed in it’s really pure ice you could put it in glass and drink it the
put it in glass and drink it the
put it in glass and drink it the presence of water on Mars doesn’t mean
presence of water on Mars doesn’t mean
presence of water on Mars doesn’t mean that life exists there for sure although
that life exists there for sure although
that life exists there for sure although it’s a pretty good bet we know that on
it’s a pretty good bet we know that on
it’s a pretty good bet we know that on earth
earth
earth where there is water life abounds and so
where there is water life abounds and so
where there is water life abounds and so on Mars if there’s water the conditions
on Mars if there’s water the conditions
on Mars if there’s water the conditions are a little harsher than on earth but
are a little harsher than on earth but
are a little harsher than on earth but there certainly have to be regions where
there certainly have to be regions where
there certainly have to be regions where life could have taken a foothold and so
life could have taken a foothold and so
life could have taken a foothold and so while it’s not a sure bet the odds are
while it’s not a sure bet the odds are
while it’s not a sure bet the odds are that we’ll be discovering that there is
that we’ll be discovering that there is
that we’ll be discovering that there is some form of life probably in the form
some form of life probably in the form
some form of life probably in the form of bacteria somewhere on Mars but until
of bacteria somewhere on Mars but until
of bacteria somewhere on Mars but until we develop ion propulsion completely
we develop ion propulsion completely
we develop ion propulsion completely we’re not going to be going to Mars any
we’re not going to be going to Mars any
we’re not going to be going to Mars any time in the next decade although it’s
time in the next decade although it’s
time in the next decade although it’s very likely that before the middle of
very likely that before the middle of
very likely that before the middle of the century and probably even before
the century and probably even before
the century and probably even before 2040 there’ll be people on Mars of
2040 there’ll be people on Mars of
2040 there’ll be people on Mars of course before we can do that we have to
course before we can do that we have to
course before we can do that we have to figure out ways to survive on Mars and
figure out ways to survive on Mars and
figure out ways to survive on Mars and the presence of water really helps
the presence of water really helps
the presence of water really helps because we can melt the ice on Mars then
because we can melt the ice on Mars then
because we can melt the ice on Mars then we don’t have to carry all of that water
we don’t have to carry all of that water
we don’t have to carry all of that water with us so it makes things easier
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