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There's a link in the show notes the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter has potentially identified enormous ice water deposits beneath the Martian surface located at the Red Planet's equator. These deposits are estimated to be about 3.7 kilometers thick, and if melted, they could cover Mars with a water layer approximately 2 meters deep or fill Earth's Red Sea. This revelation is reshaping our perception of Mars, suggesting a past word.
Glaciers, lakes and river channels were prevalent. Now Colin Wilson, who's a project scientist at ISA, highlighted the significance of this. He stated we've seen evidence of glaciers, extinct, glaciers which are no longer there, but also some glaciers covered with dust. This discovery shows that the abundance of water on ancient Mars it's hinting at a landscape dramatically different from the arid planet that we see today.
And Mars Express first confirmed the presence of ice on Mars in 2004. The discovery of these deposits came in 2007, but their composition was unclear at the time. They were thought to be accumulations of dust, volcanic ash, or sediment. NASA in 2015 also observed what appeared to be streams of salty water on Mars, indicating the planet's dynamic nature. Now, Jim Green, who's NASA's director of planetary science, said that the evolution of Mars and the understanding it of it
is very important. He said Today we're revolutionizing our understanding of this planet. Our Rovers are finding that there's a lot more humidity in the air than we ever imagined. Now, the location of these ice deposits and Mars equator rather than the poles has surprised scientists. Wilson remarked on the unusual nature of this finding, a Perrigate's oddity to having a polar ice camp in Earth's equator.
This unexpected location could have significant implications for future human missions to Mars as well. And despite the excitement, Wilson pointed out practical challenges for exploration in the future. The average temperature on Mars, ranging from 20 Celsius to -153 Celsius, make the equator ice a potentially more accessible water surf for human missions. However, the ice buried under a thick dust layer might not be easily reachable for immediate
exploration needs. The Mars Express probe, which launched in June of 2003 and reached Mars in December of 2003, has been studying the Red Planet for over 2 decades. Its recent findings at the MFF, the Fosse Formation, provided deeper insights into the Martian surface and its history. Now the the Medusae Fosse Formation. That's a difficult one to say. Over 15 years ago, Mars Express studied that identifying massive deposits up to 2.5 kilometers
deep. Initial observations were inconclusive about the composition of these deposits. And Thomas Waters of the Smithsonian Institution, lead author of both the initial and recent studies, now confirms these deposits are thicker than previously thought, extending up to 3.7 kilometers thick. The MMF characterized by wind sculpted features as one of Mars most extensive deposits.
The new data suggests that these features are not just accumulations of dust, volcanic ash, but include significant layers of ice covered by a protective layer of dust or ash. Now, Andrea Cicchetti of the National Institute of Astrophysics, Italy, explains that the new data from radar from the Mars Express MARSIS instrument was crucial in identifying the icy nature of the MFF. The low density and radar transparency of these deposits are consistent with ice, challenging previously
assumptions. Now, this discovery indicates that the massive stores of ice near Mars equator must have formed during a difficult and different climate epoch. Existence of such extensive ice deposits changes our understanding of Mars climate history, suggesting a past where water was more abundant. Wilson notes that while this discovery is exciting, it also raises many more questions. Understanding the age of these ice deposits and Mars conditions
at that time remain a challenge. Confirming the presence of water ice in the MFF would significantly alter our comprehension on Mars. Climatic past the location and extent of these IC deposits are crucial for planning future human missions to Mars. Now, human missions in particular will benefit from the availability of water ice near the equator. However, the thick dust covering these deposits poses a pretty thick barrier to immediate
exploration. One specific area, Emedias Dorsum, is expected to contain the thickest ice rich deposits within the MFF. Understanding and mapping these deposits are key to future explorations and scientific inquiries. While Mars Express maps deep water ice, other missions like the TGO, equipped with the friend instrument FREND, provide insights into near surface water. These collaborative efforts are enhancing our knowledge of Mars, its history at the potential for
future exploration. Now, ESA's Mars Express orbiter has made a groundbreaking discovery now of the potential ice water deposits at Mars equator. These findings challenges our understanding of Mars climate history and opens new possibilities for human exploration. And despite the challenges in accessing these ice deposits, the information gathered is invaluable in piercing together the complex story of Mars in this evolution. Hey, thank you so much for
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