NASA has just confirmed that there is water on the planet Mars. I feel like this should be akin to landing on the moon in terms of scientific significance.

Now that the Phoenix lander has proven the existence of water, it’s modified mission will be to find out if the surface of the red planet is conducive to supporting life and if life ever existed there. Certainly finding water is a significant step in providing evidence of the sustainability of life.

I’m hoping this discovery on the martian surface ignites more interest in space exploration and more specifically funding for the programs needed to make it a reality. I would much rather see billions of dollars spent in space than in the middle east.