European spacecraft finds water on Mars

Home>>Sci-Edu

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, January 24, 2004

European spacecraft finds water on Mars

A European spacecraft has detected frozen water on Mars, the European Space Agency (ESA) said on Jan. 23.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

A European spacecraft has detected frozen water on Mars, the European Space Agency (ESA) said on Jan. 23.

The ice cap on the southern pole of Mars was discovered by ESA's Mars Express which has been orbiting around the planet since late December.

All instruments on board the Mars Express were functioning perfectly, said ESA director of science David Southwood in the western German city of Darmstadt where an ESA control center is located.

Walter Flury, an ESA scientist, called the water discovery "vital to manned space travel."

If people travel to Mars and establish space station there someday in future, "they won't have to take their own water with them from Earth," he added.

Source: Xinhua

Questions?Comments? Click here

Exploration rover "Spirit" lands safely on Mars ( 9 Messages)

Two major state banks to pilot joint-stock system ( 3 Messages)

China pondering its own "green card" system ( 16 Messages)

Roaring BMW: Was it "road rage" or an accident? ( 2 Messages)

Beijing's traffic no longer a headache by year 2008 ( 5 Messages)