Frozen water reservoir found on Mars

Scientists have found a huge reservoir of water frozen on Mars using data from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The frozen water reservoir was found beneath a region of cracked and pitted plains of the red planet.

The deposit found, ranges in thickness from about 80 metres to about 170 metres, with a composition that is 50 to 85 per cent water ice, mixed with dust or larger rocky particles.

Scientists examined part of Utopia Planitia region on Mars, with the orbiter's ground-penetrating Shallow Radar (SHARAD) instrument.

The Utopia deposit is shielded from the atmosphere by a soil. Scientists believe Mars accumulates large amounts of water ice at the poles.

Interestingly, the newly surveyed ice deposit spans latitudes from 39 to 49 degrees within the plains.

The ice deposits close to the surface are being considered as a resource for astronauts.  Utopian water is said to be frozen now. The study as published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.