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Thursday, April 10, 2003 Mars Express Expected to Find Water MARSIS Radar System on the Mars Express Orbiter. Credit: Nirgal.net The British are entirely confident that they will find water under the surface of Mars. Says Professor Iwan Williams, "Everyone is 100% confident that we will find [water]." This is a marked change from attitudes since the Viking lander revealed Mars to be a barren desert. It is a sign of how far NASA's startling findings have revolutionized how we think about Mars. The European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter and Beagle 2 lander will be launching in June. Among other instruments, the orbiter carries the MARSIS system that can see 5 kilometers below the Martian surface. Based on what we now think we know of Mars, the orbiter should find ample underground water. If it doesn't, then we will have to rethink everything about the red planet. (More info: BBC.co.uk) @ 16:32 EST