According to NASA scientists, preliminary analysis of the red planet by the Phonex Mars Lander mission, the soil is much more alkaline than expected.
“We basically have found what appears to be the requirements, the nutrients, to support life, whether past, present or future,” said Sam Kounaves, the project’s lead chemist, from the University of Arizona.
“It is the type of soil you would probably have in your back yard – you know, alkaline. You might be able to grow asparagus in it really well.”
This comes after extensive analysis the Phoenix Mars Lander has made on soil it pockets as it digs through the surface of mars then analyzes the contents by powerful microscopes.
The Arctic location where Phoenix touched down is thought to hold large stores of water-ice just below the surface.
Last week, scientists said they were positive there was ice on the planet after eight dice-sized chunks were seen melting away in a series of photographs.
But Phoenix has so far not detected organic carbon – considered an essential building block of life.
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