NASA Says Mars Once "Drenched With Water"

NASA is currently holding a press conference (carried live on NASA TV) where they are discussing findings from the Mars rovers. They are saying that the crater that the second rover has landed in has convincing evidence that it was once drenched or covered in liquid water. They cite the tiny spherules, odd holes in the rocks, sulfur in the spectrometric analyses, and evidence of an iron sulfate hydrate (a hydrate is a chemical compound which includes water molecules in the crystal lattice). Update: 03/02 19:45 GMT by M : CNN has a story, or see the NASA press release.

Comments

Re:Finally.. an end to religion

[Fnkmaster]

I assume what you mean is "how can any literalist, fundamentalist religion survive that revelation". You do realize there are a lot of people who identify themselves as being of some religion who don't believe in the literal truth of creation myths and so forth. In fact, some religions don't really require belief or faith at all in the Christian sense.

And honestly, fundamentalist Christians have been busily rejecting the heaps and reams of evidence available to refute their beliefs here on Earth. Why do you think they'd change their minds just because evidence exists on Mars?

Re:Fixing Opportunity after the fact

[Danathar]

What about looking at what happens to man made objects that have been sitting on Mars for extended periods of time. Is there any value in seeing what condition the Viking landers are in.

I would'nt make it a primary science mission, but if the opportunity arose where some future science mission could get a look at Viking would it be of any use?