"We've seen evidence for this water ice before in observations by the Mars Odyssey orbiter and in disappearing chunks observed by Phoenix last month, but this is the first time Martian water has been touched and tasted, " he said.

CNN: Lander grabs Mars water, will see if it's life-supporting

But it dates back to a time in Martian history that scientists know very little about.

FORBES: Meteorite Shows Evidence Of Water On Ancient Mars

The outcome of that rethink was a bid by the University of Arizona to take the mothballed lander, refit it, and have another go at visiting a martian pole (this time the northern one).

ECONOMIST: Space exploration

Jokingly dubbed "Grandma's house" by the crew, the rover spent over 11 Martian days there so that handlers could take some time off for the holidays.

ENGADGET: Curiosity spends holidays in Yellowknife Bay, immortalized on special Foursquare badge

The research, published online Thursday in the journal Science, offers a new perspective below the Martian surface and hints of past flooding at a time when the planet was mostly thought to be cold and desert-like.

NPR: Radar Reveals Apparent Buried Channels On Mars