NASA scientists have discovered for the first time huge masses of ice under the surface of the planet Mars.
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According to the same scientists, these ice sources can supply the drinking water needed by Mars explorers in the future.
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Although scientists knew that there was ice on Mars in 2010, on Thursday, 11 January, 2018, for the first time, images of ice masses were seen on this planet.
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The discovery was made by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO).
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Previously, scientists knew that water in the form of ice existed on Mars, but these reservoirs were in deep permafrost along with a mixture of dust, rocks, and other compounds.
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This new discovery indicates that at a depth of 1-2 meters below the surface of Mars, there are extensive layers of pure water in the form of ice, up to 100 meters thick.
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This pure frozen water is believed to be suitable for consumption.
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Using the MRO probe, which has been orbiting Mars for about a decade, NASA managed to identify eight different places on the surface of this planet where there are water reserves in the form of thick layers of ice.
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Researchers believe that this ice was originally formed as snow.
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However, the ice discovered in 2018 is pure water ice,.
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with one or two layers of ice mixed with dust and rock covering it.
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Some research indicates that one third of the subsurface layers of Mars consists of thick ice, which can provide sufficient water reserves for a long-term presence on Mars.
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In addition, according to NASA, the water is very easy to access.
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The discovery of water and its easy access method will not only provide astronauts with an important source of drinking water, but also allow them to produce rocket fuel.
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Warning: these questons and answers are not all representative of the way questions will be asked and answered in the pilot, because some questions are compound and some answers do not include citations.

Q: When did scientists first become aware that water in the form of ice existed on Mars?
A: 2010

Q: Where did these reservoirs of ice exist on Mars?
A: In deep permafrost

Q: What was mixed in with the water that contaminated it?
A: Dust, rocks, and other compounds

Q: When did NASA scientists discover for the first time that pure, drinkable, water in the form of ice existed on Mars?
A: Thursday, 11 January, 2018

Q: Which spacecraft discovered the ice by taking images/photos of Mars?
A: The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

Q: How long had the MRO probe been orbiting Mars before making this discovery?
A: About a decade

Q: How far beneath the surface of Mars does pure water in the form of ice exist?
A: 1-2 meters

Q: How thick are these layers of pure water ice estimated to be?
A: Up to 100 meters thick

Q: In how many places on Mars did the MRO detect reservoirs of water in the form of thick layers of ice?
A: Eight

Q: How do researchers believe that this ice was originally formed?
A: As snow

Q: What covers the pure water ice?
A: One or two layers of ice mixed with dust and rock

Q: What fraction of the subsurface of Mars do researchers estimate contains reservoirs of water ice?
A: One third

Q: How difficult is it to access the pure water on Mars?
A: Very easy

Q: What can the pure water be used for, in addition to supplying drinking water to astronauts?
A: To produce rocket fuel