Huge amounts of water ice found on Mars

In summary, the NASA report reveals that there is a significant amount of water ice present on Mars, with estimates of around 10,000 cubic kilometers. This is more than enough to support any colony plans, even without taking recycling into account. The ice is located under a surface layer of regolith, making it easily accessible. This is great news for future manned missions and the potential to produce fuel on the surface of Mars. While energy supply and storm shielding are important considerations, solar cells and nuclear reactors are viable options and storms are not a significant danger due to the thin atmosphere.
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NASA report.

~10,000 cubic kilometers, more than even the most enthusiastic colony concepts could use in the whole 21st century, and even if we don't take recycling into account at all. The ground has 50-85% water ice, buried under a 1 to 10 meter surface layer of regolith - it should be easy to access this ice.

Good news for plans for manned missions, especially plans that would use this ice to produce fuel on the surface of Mars, and of course good news for colony plans.
 
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But isn't the crucial part the supply of energy, too? And the storm shielding.
 
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Solar cells can provide energy, nuclear reactors are possible as well.

The rovers work fine in storms, any systems for humans would be more robust than those rovers. Storms are not dangerous in terms of wind loads - the atmosphere is very thin. They are just annoying in terms of dust.
 
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mfb said:
NASA report.

~10,000 cubic kilometers, more than even the most enthusiastic colony concepts could use in the whole 21st century, and even if we don't take recycling into account at all. The ground has 50-85% water ice, buried under a 1 to 10 meter surface layer of regolith - it should be easy to access this ice.

Good news for plans for manned missions, especially plans that would use this ice to produce fuel on the surface of Mars, and of course good news for colony plans.
Awesome news! Thanks for the post!
 

What is the significance of finding huge amounts of water ice on Mars?

The discovery of large deposits of water ice on Mars is significant because it provides evidence that there may have been liquid water on the planet's surface in the past, which is a key ingredient for life as we know it. It also indicates that there may still be water resources on Mars that could potentially be utilized for future exploration and colonization efforts.

How was the water ice on Mars discovered?

The water ice on Mars was discovered using data from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) spacecraft, specifically the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding (MARSIS) instrument. MARSIS uses radar pulses to penetrate beneath the surface of Mars and detect different materials, including water ice.

Where exactly on Mars was the water ice found?

The water ice was found in a region called Arcadia Planitia, which is located in the northern lowlands of Mars. This area is known for its smooth, flat terrain, which makes it easier for spacecraft to land and explore.

Could the water ice on Mars be used for human consumption?

While the discovery of water ice on Mars is exciting, it is not yet known if the ice is pure enough for human consumption. It may contain high levels of minerals and salts that could make it unsafe for drinking without extensive processing. Further research and analysis will be needed to determine if the water ice is suitable for human consumption.

How will the discovery of water ice on Mars impact future missions to the planet?

The discovery of water ice on Mars will greatly impact future missions to the planet by providing a potential resource for human exploration and colonization. It will also influence the selection of landing sites for future missions and could provide valuable information about the history and potential habitability of Mars.

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