What does this Aviation Week story signify? Significant announcment about potential for life on Mars at the Phoenix landing site. It says they have not found organics but there may have been interesting results when soil was mixed with H2O.

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/WH08018.xml&headline=White%20House%20Briefed%20On%20Potential%20For%20Mars%20Life&channel=space

I think the secret is about the perchlorate. Funny that the news stories are all talking about this being "bad" news because it means the soil is less likely to be currently harboring life.

Bu-u-ut, perchlorate is a handy source for breathable oxygen. IT'S WHAT THEY USE IN THOSE OXYGEN MASKS ON AIRPLANES AND STARSHIPS!!!!

I wonder if you need free Oxygen or Ozone to make perchlorate, like on Earth.
Heres a link that discusses perchlorate origin.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es048612x
There is only 0.15% O2 on Mars, at a very low surface pressure.

MIke

Go to Marsroverblog => Mars Forum => Phoenix Discussion. There are many posts on this topic there.

Winston