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Well Water Likely Available Across Mars (behindtheblack.com)

schwit1 quotes Behind the Black: A science paper released today and available for download [pdf] cites evidence from about two dozen deep impact craters located from the equator to 37 degrees north latitude that Mars has a ground ice table at an elevation that also corresponds to other shoreline features.
The paper calls this evidence of "planet-wide groundwater" with elevations that "notably coincide with the elevation of some ocean shorelines proposed by previous authors."

Science writer Robert Zimmerman adds that "The evidence suggests that this deep groundwater water table (as ice) almost certainly still exists at all latitudes, though almost entirely underground...

"All you will have to do is dig a well..."

5 of 102 comments (clear)

  1. too deep by KiloByte · · Score: 5, Informative

    TFA says the ground-ice table is 4.0-4.8km below the surface. That'd make the well quite deep -- we did manage a 12km hole on Earth but it took multiple decades to dig. Doing so without means to ship all the equipment might be a wee bit hard.

    And if you dig that deep, you might reach Hidden Fun Stuff.

    --
    The creatures outside looked from Alt-Right to Antifa; but already it was impossible to say which was which.
    1. Re:too deep by cruff · · Score: 3, Insightful

      More precisely it is at the level that is 4 km below the "Mars 17 DATUM", which could be thought of as a possible sea level reference if Mars actually had surface water oceans. It just means you need to be located at a site with an elevation lower than that reference to find the water. Still, that doesn't mean it will be easy to access or treat.

  2. Re:Does not matter by cruff · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm sure Elon will be greatly saddened to be called a nobody.

  3. Re:Does not matter by Nivag064 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Nobody is going to Mars this century. Deal with it.

    I am confident that Man will get to Mars within 10 years, and that people will be living on Mars for several Martian years within 20 years.

    Rocket technology is both far more sophisticated and cheaper in real terms, than it was when Man landed on the Moon. Almost totally reusable rockets of the BFR class and above, will make it happen. Provided Trump, and his ignorant ilk, don't get in the way.

  4. Re: Does not matter by cjameshuff · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Moon bases are never going to be self-sufficient, they'll always be dependent on importing volatiles that the moon lacks. Mars has everything Earth does...more limited quantities in some cases, but more than enough for a self-sufficient colony's needs.

    It's easier to land payloads on Mars than it is on the moon. While the atmosphere can't brake large vehicles to subsonic speeds, it can still take care of the majority of the entry velocity, which lunar landers must deal with using their landing rockets. Mars missions do have to carry a few months of consumables for the trip in addition to what they'll need on the ground, but that's hardly something that requires 30 years of experience on the moon to achieve.