Mars Rover Opportunity Finds Traces Of 'Drinkable' Water - Polidicks

[IMG]http://rt.com/files/news/1f/59/40/00/749837main_pia16930-946.si.jpg[/IMG] [QUOTE]NASA's Mars rover Opportunity has made what may be its greatest discovery: Proof freshwater once existed on the Red Planet. The rover's previous discoveries over the last nine years suggest that water on Mars was acidic. Since 2011, the solar-powered six-wheel Opportunity has explored the Endeavour Crater, the largest of the five craters already examined by the rover. In Endeavour, the rover found minerals dating back to the first billion years of Martian geological history. When the rover scraped away the top layer of a light-colored rock after several attempts, it found traces of clay minerals with an aluminum-rich chemical signature, suggesting they were formed through interaction with pH-neutral water. Other stones Opportunity tested over the years have confirmed that water was once present on Mars, but research suggested that it was acidic, and not capable of sustaining life.[/QUOTE] [IMG]http://admin.rt.com/files/news/1f/59/40/00/111279main_image_feature_291_ys_4.jpg[/IMG] [QUOTE][I]“This is water you can drink,''[/I] Opportunity mission chief scientist Steve Squyres of Cornell University said. In 2004, twin rovers Opportunity and Spirit landed on opposite sides of the Red Planet. They were supposed to work for three months, but both operated for years. Spirit operated until 2010 when it got stuck in sand, and later stopped communicating with mission control. Opportunity continues to gather valuable information as it moves further on the Mars surface, though its hardware is aging – it recent experienced a problem with its flash memory, but the operators were able to reboot the system. [/QUOTE] [URL]http://rt.com/news/opportunity-fresh-water-mars-404/[/URL]

almost 10 years and still making important discoveries. What an incredible machine.

I hope one day in the future that curiosity and opportunity both meetup. Then they have little robotic off-spring and get them to mine rocks, creating a mini-robotic slave work force.

[QUOTE=UberMunchkin;40953949]Aww :c[/QUOTE] XKCD is always relevant [img]http://i.imgur.com/G7neipp.png[/img]

There's life under the surface somewhere, I'm calling it

[QUOTE=Zeke129;40954084]There's life under the surface somewhere, I'm calling it[/QUOTE] I just hope it's not these chaps: [img]http://www.ifc.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mars-attacks.jpg[/img]

[QUOTE=CMB Unit 01;40954197]I just hope it's not these chaps: [img]http://www.ifc.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mars-attacks.jpg[/img][/QUOTE] When I was younger, that movie and Independence Day gave me the worst nightmares. I still don't feel well watching that movie...

It would be incredible to be alive when the first discovery of alien life in history is made.

[QUOTE=ac/14;40953935]almost 10 years and still making important discoveries. What an incredible machine.[/QUOTE] Not only that, but Opportunity is making the sorts of discoveries they sent Curiosity out to make. Wonder what's going on with the Curiosity team...did they order it to draw a pair of titties in the Martian sands with its tire tracks or something?

[QUOTE=demoguy08;40954266]It would be incredible to be alive when the first discovery of alien life in history is made.[/QUOTE] Well we're reaching that point where it could happen anytime now.

[QUOTE=scout1;40954067]XKCD is always relevant [img]http://i.imgur.com/G7neipp.png[/img][/QUOTE] When(if) we colonize mars will obviously pick the rovers back up and put them on huge statues, their sacrifice will never be forgotten.

[QUOTE=UberMunchkin;40953949]Aww :c[/QUOTE] what happened AFAIK the movement of the bot shook the dust off the solar panel. They're like sharks!

[QUOTE=Zeke129;40954084]There's life under the surface somewhere, I'm calling it[/QUOTE] I doubt it.

You yanks got your tax monies worth out of those machines, I dare say.

[QUOTE=Sobotnik;40954379]I doubt it.[/QUOTE] There's been crazier discoveries where something shouldn't have survived but did. I wouldn't hold my breath but there's always that kind of possibility.

[QUOTE=jiggu;40954371]When(if) we colonize mars will obviously pick the rovers back up and put them on huge statues, their sacrifice will never be forgotten.[/QUOTE] [IMG]http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20050520073628/memoryalpha/en/images/thumb/4/48/Mars_Heritage_Site.jpg/500px-Mars_Heritage_Site.jpg[/IMG]

If only people would start investing money into space so that humans can go their and check it out. NASA is dying. Scientists need to find oil up there ffs.

[QUOTE=Rangergxi;40954776]If only people would start investing money into space so that humans can go their and check it out. NASA is dying. Scientists need to find oil up there ffs.[/QUOTE] For there to be oil, there's need to have been life. I think scientists finding oil up there would be a fucking brilliant thing, both because sudden space race, and proof that Mars supported life.

The discovery of traces of drinkable water is awesome. But the best part about this little guy (Oppy) is the fact that it only was supposed to last 30 days. It lasted 10 years. Curiosity is "supposed" to last one Martian year. So imagine how long it's going to operate! (Even more than Spirit and Oppy, since it doesn't need to worry about solar panels) Fucking space, yo.

[QUOTE=CMB Unit 01;40954197]I just hope it's not these chaps: [img]http://www.ifc.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mars-attacks.jpg[/img][/QUOTE] Don't worry, if there is life, it'll probably be nothing more than bacteria and maybe a few simple multi-celled organisms

Amazing how Mars probably would have a lot of biodiversity if it was a bit larger so it could have an atmosphere capable of handling life.

And then it sends a message "Fuck you curiosity you ain't got shit on me" with a picture of a dick made in the dirt

It would be awesome to be able to bring one of those things back to Earth as a museum exhibit or something. Its just... they look so lonely down there.

[QUOTE=Rangergxi;40954776]If only people would start investing money into space so that humans can go their and check it out. NASA is dying. Scientists need to find oil up there ffs.[/QUOTE] you'd need more rocket fuel to get that home than you could make with the oil you just hauled

As interesting these discoveries might be... I'm still a bit impatient for when we'll decide to investigate Europa. Ever since I read 2010: Odyssey Two I've been terribly curious about exploring that moon.

[QUOTE=Zeke129;40954084]There's life under the surface somewhere, I'm calling it[/QUOTE] ever played this game called Red Faction Armageddon?

[QUOTE=Zeke129;40954084]There's life under the surface somewhere, I'm calling it[/QUOTE] We all know Warhammer 40k is actually a documentary and it's the void dragon, NASA is clearly covering it up so we don't awaken it before the Emperor makes his appearance again. [editline]9th June 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=YCheez;40957764]It would be awesome to be able to bring one of those things back to Earth as a museum exhibit or something. Its just... they look so lonely down there.[/QUOTE] It's fine we're going to send people to Mars to die with them, maybe they'll keep them as robotic pets.

I don't care about space and such, but terraforming Mars would be a pretty fucking cool idea.

[QUOTE=Simski;40958015]As interesting these discoveries might be... I'm still a bit impatient for when we'll decide to investigate Europa.Ever since I read 2010: Odyssey Two I've been terribly curious about exploring that moon.[/QUOTE] Or Janus. (See Pushing Ice)I'll agree on Europa though. I really want to know if it really has a sea beneath the surface (not been confirmed, but strong indications)

[QUOTE=CMB Unit 01;40954197]I just hope it's not these chaps: [img]http://www.ifc.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mars-attacks.jpg[/img][/QUOTE] Simple solution: [video=youtube;nSsJmrI2XFg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSsJmrI2XFg[/video]