This is the area beneath the lander showing what is believed to be a sheet of ice. Descent thrusters on the bottom of the lander are visible at the top of the image.. - NASA/JPL

This contrast-enhanced image provided Saturday, May 31, 2008, by NASA shows what is referred to as ‘hard substrate’ beneath the lander. While it could be rock or something else, scientists are fairly certain what they are seeing is a sheet of ice uncovered by the Phoenix Lander’s thrusters as it set down.

If it is ice, then long-range plans for a human descent to the planet can be pursued. With ice, or water, it would be possible to extract oxygen for breathing and hydrogen as fuel enabling a human to land on Mars and pursue scientific research.