The water on Mars was once balanced enough that humans could
drink it, scientists said Tuesday while discussing the latest
findings from the Curiosity rover. Gallery: Images of Mars from
the Curiosity rover John Grotzinger, the Curiosity project
scientist based at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said drilling
samples analyzed by the rover indicated a habitable environment
that was so supportive of life that microbes easily could have
lived there. The analysis showed sulfur, nitrogen, hydrogen,
oxygen, phosphorus and carbon, all elements important for life.
"A fundamental question for this mission is whether Mars could
have supported a habitable environment," said Michael Meyer,
lead scientist for NASA's Mars Exploration Program. "From what
we know now, the answer is yes. " More drilling samples will be
collected at the rover's location in Yellowknife Bay, a low-
elevation area within Gale Crater on Mars, Grotzinger said, but
scientists will be working on the clock. The rover is now
operating with it "B-side" comput