"Ice Water Deposits Found at Mars Equator by ESA's Mars Express Orbiter"
Europe's Mars Express orbiter may have discovered massive ice water deposits below the surface of Mars, estimated to be around 3.7 kilometers thick, challenging previous assumptions about the planet's history and potential for sustaining life. The discovery, located at the equator rather than the poles, has excited scientists about the potential for future human exploration missions, although the protective layer of dust or ash above the ice may complicate access.