"... I assume they measured the temperature and atmospheric pressure at the rover and have done the calculations to make sure it's actually possible that this was frozen H20 that sublimed? NASA is pretty smart, right? ..."
In the releases I've read there was no real direct evidence only observation that ...
""It must be ice," said Phoenix Principal Investigator Peter Smith of the University of Arizona, Tucson. "These little clumps completely disappearing over the course of a few days, that is perfect evidence that it's ice. There had been some question whether the bright material was salt. Salt can't do that."" ~ http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/06_19_pr.php
So the headlines are a bit premature until they release an explanation of the measurements they are taking.
Comments
"... I assume they measured the temperature and atmospheric pressure at the rover and have done the calculations to make sure it's actually possible that this was frozen H20 that sublimed? NASA is pretty smart, right? ..."
In the releases I've read there was no real direct evidence only observation that ...
""It must be ice," said Phoenix Principal Investigator Peter Smith of the University of Arizona, Tucson. "These little clumps completely disappearing over the course of a few days, that is perfect evidence that it's ice. There had been some question whether the bright material was salt. Salt can't do that."" ~ http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/06_19_pr.php
So the headlines are a bit premature until they release an explanation of the measurements they are taking.