SPACE WIRE
European spacecraft detects ice at Martian pole
DARMSTADT, Germany (AFP) Jan 23, 2004
The European orbiter Mars Express has detected ice at the South Pole of Mars, a finding that confirms indications by NASA nearly two years ago, the European Space Agency (ESA) said Friday.

"We have identified water ice on the South Pole," said ESA scientist Vittorio Formisano, unveiling preliminary data garnered by the unmanned spacecraft.

The announcement at a press conference at the Mars Express mission headquarters backs data provided by NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter in March 2002.

It suggested that the planet's southern polar cap contains abundant stores of frozen water.

NASA's evidence came from big signals from Odyssey's gamma ray spectrometer of the presence of hydrogen, one component of water.

ESA's data comes a spectrometer called Omega, which uses reflected sunlight in the visible and infrared range to determine the mineral content of the Martian surface and the molecular composition of its atmosphere.

The Red Planet's northern ice cap is already thought to contain water ice, along with frozen carbon dioxide (CO2), the substance also known as dry ice.

Water, in its liquid form, is one of the ingredients for nurturing and sustaining life, and Mars is considered to be the best bet for this outside Earth.

Mars Express scientist Jean-Loup Bertaux told AFP that the water ice had been detected on the surface of the south pole and was not covered by frozen

Asked whether the frozen water was present in large quantities, he said, "We don't know yet."

But, he said, there was a strong possibility that it was present year-round.

"We are at the end of the Martian summer at the moment, and so it is possible that it may not be seasonal," he said.

Mars Express, which went into orbit around Mars on December 25, is Europe's first solo exploration of another planet.

It comprises an orbiter packed with seven scientific instruments to map the Martian surface and atmosphere.

It is also the mothership to a miniaturised laboratory, Beagle 2, which was scheduled to land on December 25 on a mission to search for signs of life but which has remained bafflingly silent.

NASA has sent two roving labs. The first to land, on January 3, was Spirit, which sent back dramatic pictures before malfunctioning on Thursday. It is due to be followed this weekend, by a twin, Opportunity.

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