Has the phoenix actually discovered anything useful in its 52 days on mars so far?

Question

do you think it has justified spending 4 or 500 million dollars approx on the project so far?

Answer 1

No it hasn't. Supposedly ice-they don't know what the ice is.

Answer 2

Yes, it has discovered water ice just under the Martian surface, which will make future manned missions there MUCH more self sufficient. They won't have to bring all of their water with them, they'll be able to just dig it up, melt it down, filter it, mix it with their Tang and drink it. They'll also be able to use it with the Martian atmosphere to make methane and oxygen, which could be used to power their rovers and equipment, as well as fuel their return rocket. I think that the $437 million the US spent, and the $20 million the Canadians did, was money very well invested, especially in light of the fact that every cent was spent, of course, right here on Earth, providing jobs for people who would otherwise not have one. It's not as if they stuff these things with dollar bills and spew them through interplanetary space, you know.

Answer 3

Well so far it seems to indicate some evidence of water having been flowing at some period of time but nothing living . They are still on the job but earth samples results we have no news neither atmospheric. Regarding the money I would rather they use it on Saving OUR Planet!

Answer 4

Hi Irishboyo:

It's my understanding that the Phoenix used its robotic arm to dig into the surface on mars in an effort to bring up both soil and ice.  

Once NASA analyzes the Phoenix's samples of soil and ice NASA will use the samples to create models of the Mars' historic climate and to predict future atmospheric conditions.  

Additionally, water on Mars exists only in solid and gaseous form, though previous missions to and around the planet have suggested that it once flowed in liquid form--as recently, as about 100,000 years ago.  

Scientists hope that the Phoenix will  determine "habitability" properties of the soil such as pH and saltiness.  Having said that, I do believe that the Phoenix has actually discovered useful scientific information during it's mission on Mars.  

Yes! I think it justifies the $420 Million spent so far.  I hope this answered your question.  Bye Sweetie-Pie.