Water on Mars Highly Probable

Water on Mars has been uncovered for the first time, raising hopes that the Red Planet may be capable of sustaining life.

NASA scientists have revealed that the Phoenix Mars Lander has sent back the first definitive proof that there is water ice hidden beneath the surface of the alien rust-coloured planet.

	The trench on Mars

After twenty days of scratching its way through the Martian top soil, the spacecraft uncovered a bright white layer just two inches below the surface.

Four days after the white layer was first exposed to sunlight, photographs taken by the lander's on board camera showed the white surface had disappeared.

This proves, the scientists say, that the white layer was not salt as had been previously thought possible because it was melting.

Chemical analysis of soil containing the white layer are still to be completed, but there is no doubt in the minds of NASA scientists that they will further confirm the presence of water on Mars.