JimK:  One step closer.

There is water ice on Mars within reach of the Mars Phoenix Lander, NASA scientists announced Thursday.

Photographic evidence settles the debate over the nature of the white material seen in photographs sent back by the craft. As seen in lower left of this image, chunks of the ice sublimed (changed directly from solid to gas) over the course of four days, after the lander’s digging exposed them.

“It must be ice,” said the Phoenix Lander’s lead investigator, Peter Smith. “These little clumps completely disappearing over the course of a few days, that is perfect evidence that it’s ice.”

JimK:  Ice means water, water could be sustainable, and that could mean food and energy someday.  That makes manned missions much more feasible.

JimK:  Yes I would.

JimK:  By the time we can go to Mars, you will live on a chip in my head.  I think we’ve had this conversation before.

Maybe the coolest thing?  The news hit Twitter before anywhere else. 

“Are you ready to celebrate?  Well, get ready: We have ICE!!!!! Yes, ICE, *WATER ICE* on Mars!  w00t!!!  Best day ever!!” the Mars Phoenix Lander tweeted at about 5:15 pm.

Very cool.

JimK:  Of course you do.