Map of water ice on Mars shows where NASA (and SpaceX) are likely to send their first astronauts

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Map of water ice on Mars shows where NASA (and SpaceX) are likely to send their first astronautsA newly published survey pinpointing where Martian water ice is likely to lie close to the surface could serve as a roadmap for establishing the first human settlement. The survey, published in Geophysical Research Letters, is based on readings from the Mars Climate Sounder on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, plus the Thermal Emission Imaging System and Gamma Ray Spectrometer on the Mars Odyssey orbiter. Those readings point to water ice deposits that could lie within a foot, or even an inch, of the surface. "You wouldn't need a backhoe to dig up this ice. You could use a shovel," the… Read More


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