NASA says Phoenix lander is sampling water on Mars

Yep, just like we'd heard, the Phoenix lander has identified water in a soil sample it collected in Mars earlier, and NASA's extended the mission for another 90 days to go look for more. There's no analysis of the ice yet, but it doesn't look like there's any organic materials in the sample, and it'll take another three to four weeks before there's any more data to reveal. Hopefully that means we'll be packing up our silver go-go boots and taking off for our fabulous future lives on Mars in a month, but we'll see how things go.

[who? @ Jul 31st 2008 6:42PM]

And the first form of alien life iiiiiiis...

[phanbouy @ Jul 31st 2008 7:19PM]

a duck!

[Sora @ Jul 31st 2008 7:29PM]

.....Chuck Norris!

[Thomas @ Jul 31st 2008 7:58PM]

Howard Stern

[someone @ Jul 31st 2008 8:03PM]

Steve Jobs- He WAS the first to make everything!

[Paulmichael @ Aug 1st 2008 1:14AM]

No no no NO! Bad someone, BAD!

[someone @ Aug 1st 2008 1:41AM]

LOL, if they don't add italics to this comments system then nobody will EVER know when I'm being sarcastic... Pretend 'WAS' was italicized. Got it now?


Dearest ENGADGET -
Please add italics, smileys, bold, underline, strikethrough, and everything else that basic comment systems have been equipped with since the 90's. Thank you.

[Blair906 @ Jul 31st 2008 6:46PM]

i call first sno cone!!!!!

[Unknown @ Aug 1st 2008 12:26AM]

Just remember: Never eat yellow snow.

[Podaman @ Jul 31st 2008 6:47PM]

Bottle it. You're sitting on a gold mine Phoenix.

[who? @ Jul 31st 2008 6:51PM]

No. Phoenix is sitting on a beach. In Mexico.

Yeah.

[Podaman @ Jul 31st 2008 7:17PM]

Would this be due to some sort of Metric / American unit conversion error?

...or does Phoenix have some sort of hidden agenda involving donkey shows and diarrhea?

[kidcanuck @ Aug 1st 2008 5:22AM]

I see what you did there.

[Lowest Ranked @ Jul 31st 2008 6:48PM]

I'm going to buy Mars, then bottle the water and sell it for $400 a bottle. And you know people would be dumb enough to buy 'Fresh Mars Mountain Spring Water'.

First picture of water on Mars http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap050401.html

[Dillon @ Jul 31st 2008 6:50PM]

It'll probably cost you millions to get enough to get one bottle.

[Lowest Ranked @ Jul 31st 2008 6:58PM]

Then I'll steal it.



Actually, why steal money to go to Mars to bottle water to sell to people?

I'll just take the money. Done.

[Peter @ Jul 31st 2008 6:49PM]

Can you imagine the Montezuma's Revenge you would get from drinking water from Mars - you would be shitting yourself for the rest of your life.

[Jon Doe. @ Jul 31st 2008 6:51PM]

Umm considering there is no bacteria to get you sick....I see nothing wrong with drinking Mars water. Hell how cool would it be to say you Mars based lemonade?

[Will @ Aug 1st 2008 12:14AM]

Bacteria isn't the only thing in water that can kill you. There are tons of minerals and other toxins out there that can kill you.

[Jon Doe. @ Jul 31st 2008 6:49PM]

I call dibs on Olympus Mons.

[Lowest Ranked @ Jul 31st 2008 7:00PM]

Ok, I'll call the Mons Pubis.

[Rick @ Jul 31st 2008 6:50PM]

It should be sampling the local brew.

[Peter @ Jul 31st 2008 6:53PM]

I will watch you try it first. Should be fun.

[mkeough23 @ Jul 31st 2008 6:56PM]

Alright quick someone think of a good name for water bottled in mars

[phanbouy @ Jul 31st 2008 7:08PM]

TOTAL RECALL HYDRATION, INC.

[retro77 @ Jul 31st 2008 7:29PM]

"Get your thirst to Mars!"

[BratPAQ @ Jul 31st 2008 7:07PM]

NASA Scientist 1: "OK, lets start testing this water...where the hell is it?"

NASA Scientist 2: "Uh oh...I was thirsty and I thought its..."

[crazyjoezx @ Jul 31st 2008 7:07PM]

""the Phoenix "rover" has identified water in a soil sample it collected in Mars earlier,""

its not a rover its a lander...rovers move ,landers...well land

[crazyjoezx @ Jul 31st 2008 7:09PM]

never mind fixed lol..

[OZON @ Jul 31st 2008 7:21PM]

The Bible does not tell about extra terrestrial life...maybe because there isn't any life out there. Currently I think...we are alone...cool. This is a more amazing thing as having some company on neighbourhood....

[Andrew Borem @ Jul 31st 2008 7:30PM]

Epic fail.

[Skyride @ Jul 31st 2008 7:37PM]

If you are genuinely religous, i commend your faith but feel sorry for your small mindedness.

If your not, +1 to epic fail.

[michael @ Jul 31st 2008 8:00PM]

Where's God 'supposed' to be according to the book?

[Andrew Borem @ Jul 31st 2008 8:13PM]

God is not a physical being, He is a spirit. So.... not in space.

[Ignatius @ Jul 31st 2008 10:43PM]

Well, I don't know about you guys, but I worship the bright thing in the sky.

At least it's actually THERE.

[ds @ Aug 1st 2008 10:21AM]

Christians also worship the thing in the sky.. most of them just don't understand what the religion is founded on.

[SINNN @ Jul 31st 2008 7:28PM]

wow, i would like to go to mars and surf the web on my new 3g iphone! And sit and relax and drnk the water while on 3g speeds! Radical dudes and dudetes

[retro77 @ Jul 31st 2008 7:30PM]

sans spacesuit.....

[rv @ Jul 31st 2008 11:28PM]

What band do you need to have your phone work on mars?

[OZON @ Jul 31st 2008 7:49PM]

Hey there... I have a small mind. Its really narrow. I know this...

This is not an easy issue to me...I know that modern man keeps someone as an idiot if he does not think that there is extaterrestrial life...

But...what is the truth...the truth is out there... :-)

I think Bible may perhaps need to be rejected if there is some bakteria in Mars...or at least its interpretation needs to be heavily reconsidered....

I think if there is extraterrestrial life there is also Karma, reincarnation and God is different from that what we read from the Bible...

Ufos are perhaps demonic phenomenon...but if they are real visitors from outer space could there be any chance for salvation work of Jesus...you know...did Jesus died because of aliens also? I think not.

Maybe whole New Testament is just imagination if there is extraterrestrial life, real visitors from outern space, reincarnation and karma...you know...Christianity may loose its point if there is extraterrestrial life...

But this is difficult question which has caused wars in mankind...that which holy book is correct...

Ufo's and idea of extraterrestrial life fits well to new age teachings and similar stuff....

Anyway I am still looking for truth and I hope I will find it...really can someone surely say if there is extraterrestrial life or not? I think nobody knows...

[Andrew Borem @ Jul 31st 2008 8:07PM]

I am definitely a Christian who accepts the Bible. But to reject something due to it NOT being mentioned in the Bible is intellectual suicide. The Bible never talks about orthodontic braces... They must not exist or they are evil.

There are no pianos in the Bible, or video games, or CGI. These things must not exist.

The truth can be logical. There are many sentient creatures on this earth that are what I, as a Christian, would consider "soulless". I would consider silverback gorillas intelligent, and capable of semi-rational thought. The fact that there is no creature on this planet that has anything near human intelligence or rationality sort of leads me to believe that we are unlikely to find another species on our level.

A good Christian is a reasoned person as well. To accept everything without reason is a sign of a person who is looking for an easy way out. Christianity is salvation, not a crutch. Jesus didn't come to turn our brains off, is what I am trying to say here. There is definitely a strong possibility of extra-terrestrial life, but the fact that the Bible doesn't mention it does not mean that the Bible disavows it.

[MarkS @ Jul 31st 2008 8:40PM]

What was this? The George Lucas pitch for "Kingdom of a Crystal Skull"?

[ajfarson @ Jul 31st 2008 11:41PM]

what are you smoking? This is engadget NOT enreligion. lighten up! Besides just because a book (the bible in particular) doesn't mention something doesn't mean it is invalid... it just means it isn't relevant to the point of the writings. Extraterrestrials which isn't what "MIGHT" be found in that water (more like bacteria or maybe single celled organism) won't matter one lick and you miss the whole point of the Bible anyway.

[alexmueller @ Aug 1st 2008 11:48AM]

I think you all need to read the God Delusion.

[Marques @ Aug 1st 2008 2:48PM]

SHUT UP! Go debate that one on Foxnews dawt com or something!

[suadion @ Jul 31st 2008 7:55PM]

Read carefully,

nasa.gov: "The mission extension adds five weeks to the 90 days of the prime mission."

It's not extended by 90 days, like you say: "and NASA's extended the mission for another 90 days to go look for more."

But by five weeks.

Not that it matters that much, but someone might tell their friends about this glorious news and get it all wrong if their only source was engadget.

[DEE @ Jul 31st 2008 8:05PM]

GET YOUR ASS TO MARS!

GET YOUR ASS TO MARS!

GET YOUR ASS TO MARS!

[Rocketman @ Aug 1st 2008 9:56AM]

LOL!

See you at the party, Richter.

[dubbbya @ Jul 31st 2008 8:08PM]

Do you honestly think they would tell you if there actually was organisms in the frozen water on Mars?

They want us to be as hostile as possible, admitting to life on another planet could cause humans to realize they aren't alone, and that banding together is the natural way. That DOES NOT make money.

Zeitgeist

[o29 @ Jul 31st 2008 8:15PM]

Quick, grab your tinfoil hat!