White House Briefed On Potential For Mars Life

Rob Goldsmith · Posted on: Sat Aug 02, 2008 1:30 pm

Sources are suggesting that the White House has been briefed on the potential for life on Mars.

Universe Today
http://www.universetoday.com/2008/08/02 ... e-on-mars/

Spaceref
http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews.html?id=1297

And here is an extract from Aviation Week & Space Technology

Copyright 2008 Aviation Week & Space Technology

The White House has been alerted by NASA about plans to make an announcement soon on major new Phoenix lander discoveries concerning the "potential for life" on Mars, scientists tell Aviation Week & Space Technology.

Sources say the new data do not indicate the discovery of existing or past life on Mars. Rather the data relate to habitability--the "potential" for Mars to support life--at the Phoenix arctic landing site, sources say.

The data are much more complex than results related NASA's July 31 announcement that Phoenix has confirmed the presence of water ice at the site.

International news media trumpeted the water ice confirmation, which was not a surprise to any of the Phoenix researchers. "They have discovered water on Mars for the third or fourth time," one senior Mars scientists joked about the hubbub around the water ice announcement.

The other data not discussed openly yet are far more "provocative," Phoenix officials say.

In fact, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory science team for the MECA wet-chemistry instrument that made the findings was kept out of a July 31 news conference at the University of Arizona Phoenix control center. The goal was to prevent them from being asked any questions that could reveal information before NASA is ready to make an announcement, sources say.

Discuss :shock:

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Rob Goldsmith Moon Mission Member Joined: Fri Jan 09, 2004 11:52 am Posts: 1267 Location: Exeter, Devon, England	White House Briefed On Potential For Mars Life Posted on: Sat Aug 02, 2008 10:29 am Sources are suggesting that the White House has been briefed on the potential for life on Mars. Universe Today http://www.universetoday.com/2008/08/02 ... e-on-mars/ Spaceref http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews.html?id=1297 And here is an extract from Aviation Week & Space Technology Copyright 2008 Aviation Week & Space Technology The White House has been alerted by NASA about plans to make an announcement soon on major new Phoenix lander discoveries concerning the "potential for life" on Mars, scientists tell Aviation Week & Space Technology. Sources say the new data do not indicate the discovery of existing or past life on Mars. Rather the data relate to habitability--the "potential" for Mars to support life--at the Phoenix arctic landing site, sources say. The data are much more complex than results related NASA's July 31 announcement that Phoenix has confirmed the presence of water ice at the site. International news media trumpeted the water ice confirmation, which was not a surprise to any of the Phoenix researchers. "They have discovered water on Mars for the third or fourth time," one senior Mars scientists joked about the hubbub around the water ice announcement. The other data not discussed openly yet are far more "provocative," Phoenix officials say. In fact, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory science team for the MECA wet-chemistry instrument that made the findings was kept out of a July 31 news conference at the University of Arizona Phoenix control center. The goal was to prevent them from being asked any questions that could reveal information before NASA is ready to make an announcement, sources say. Discuss _________________ > http://www.fullmoonclothing.com > http://www.facebook.com/robsastrophotography > robgoldsmith@hotmail.co.uk
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koxinga Space Walker Joined: Sat Jun 26, 2004 2:00 pm Posts: 212	Posted on: Sat Aug 02, 2008 1:30 pm chemical composition of the ice? as it, more than just H2O.
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thomson Spaceflight Participant Joined: Tue Jul 27, 2004 8:17 am Posts: 71 Location: Gdansk, Poland	Posted on: Thu Aug 07, 2008 9:04 pm Maybe they were talking about this one: Clays Shed Light on Water, Suggest Past Mars Microbes: http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/080807-mars-clay-02.html Is there someone with chemistry background to comment on this one? By the way, it seems like a great place to for MSL landing.
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