One of the big rules is we can't go where we think there might be water and therefore life on Mars unless we can prove our device is 100% sanitized. To the point where a friend and colleague gave up and suggested we just shoot the surface with a copper ball and just collect the dust once it's in upper atmosphere.

Also, I was already part of a group that was taking pictures of lava tubes and we discovered cracking and shifting soil like a decade ago letting us know we had found surface water. It's kinda old news to me.

Edit: I guess the interesting part of this discovery is specifically that it's frost since that is a unique form for the water to take especially there. Since we would expect it to sublimate pretty quickly.

[–] MartianRecon@lemmus.org 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Wait you work on Mars missions?! What the heck do you do man that's awesome!

[–] Krauerking@lemy.lol 1 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Not anymore. I couldn't get funding for either of my projects and literally couldn't figure out to do with my dual majors in theoretical astrophysics and xenobiology.

So now I work basically just IT support...

I helped build the infrared cameras for some satellites, nothing like getting a stack of diamond disks for lenses and just tossing half of them for impurity reasons to make you understand how the budgets end up so high.

And I was using the THEMIS camera for specifically work with mars atmospheric and habitability studies.

Edit: I dunno here is a fun side fact. Because of my past life, I have had direct interactions with Bill Nye (the science guy), that make me know he is an asshole, and I consider him to be a negative force on the scientific community. Just all around a self absorbed anti intellectual.