A team of geologists from the University of Mississippi analyzed images from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter’s HiRISE camera and discovered a number of relief features in the northern part of Amazonis Planitia (mid-latitudes of Mars) – softened craters, polygonal cracks, and so-called brain terrain. The results, described in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets article and the university press release, showed a geomorphological analysis according to which water ice lies at a depth of less than one meter from the surface in some areas.
Researchers have identified three promising sites: AP-1, AP-8, and AP-9. They are united by “mosaic” soil and eroded crater rims, which form when ice partially melts and subsides. The ice is so close to the surface that it “can be reached with a geological sample drill,” notes the study’s lead author, Erika Ludzi.
The advantage of Amazonis Planitia is its combination of moderate cold and abundant solar energy: the batteries will work efficiently, and the ice will not evaporate. The region has long been on NASA’s list as a potential “landing site” for manned expeditions.
The availability of water literally at our feet means that ISRU processes (in-situ resource utilization) will become practical: ice can be melted to obtain drinking water, decomposed into oxygen and hydrogen for breathing and fuel. This will significantly reduce the launch weight of spacecraft and lower the cost of Martian bases. In addition, underground ice potentially preserves biomarkers, making the Amazonis Planitia sites a priority for the search for traces of ancient life. The experience gained from drilling and analyzing ice cores will help improve the instruments that will subsequently be used to drill Jupiter and Saturn’s icy moons, expanding the horizons of planetary astronomy.
If you are inspired by the prospect of easy water extraction in Amazonis Planitia, it is worth finding out what else the Red Planet has in store for future explorers and tourists. Head to our selection of giant canyons and supervolcanoes — a route for those who dream of seeing the most impressive landscapes in the Solar System. Read about it in the article “The main tourist attractions of Mars: giant canyons, supervolcanoes, and the deepest waterfall.”
