Martian soil 'could support life'

The soil on Mars is of sufficiently quality to grow crops

The first results from the Phoenix probe's analysis have shown that the Martian soil is capable of supporting life and could even be used to grow crops.

Scientists at Nasa said in a press conference today that the probe had baked a batch of soil that gave off "modest amounts" of water vapour and had clearly had contact with water at some time in the past.

More importantly the soil is of sufficiently quality to grow crops should astronauts make it to the planet's surface.

"We have basically found what appears to be the requirements, the nutrients, to support life whether past, present or future," said Nasa chemistry expert Sam Kounaves.

"It is the type of soil you would probably have in your back yard, you know, alkaline. You might be able to grow asparagus in it really well, although maybe not strawberries."

The results are a huge boost to the project, which suffered setbacks yesterday when some of its chemical apparatus failed to function properly.

The probe carries eight single-use ovens for cooking soil samples, but the doors to all but three have not opened properly.

Nasa is now working on a plan to get the remaining ovens operational and is reserving the functioning units for analysing Martian ice.