Space Forum / Astronomy / August 2004

In 1972 our probing Mars soil,and rocks did not show one molecule of
water.(not one part in a billion. Our last probes did not do any better.
We are being told "once upon a time" like a billion years ago things
could have been different,and Mars surface had lots of running water.
That underground could be the place to find water. That the north pole
might be the best place.  The next probe should be a dart with a 25 foot
hollow needle. It should come down on the  frosty north pole and the
force of impact would drive its pointed needle nose 25 feet into the
surface.  The needle could be heated,and let it be water ammonia,or CO2
that would be release and tested.  This probe could be cheap to make,and
need no moving parts. Just a very strong battery,and I would not even
have photoelectric panels.  The probe could be called Bert's hypodermic
needle. Why not?        It might give NASA a shot in the arm.