'Nasa set to announce manned mission to Mars'
The Times says it follows new evidence that huge ice fields below the surface of the planet could support human life.
Jim Garvin, head of the Mars exploration programme for Nasa, is expected to announce a manned mission to the planet within 20 years at a conference in Washington this week.
Such a space flight has been dogged by the difficulties of carrying sufficient water to support the crew.
However The Times reports Mr Garvin will disclose that the Martian explorer satellite Odyssey has detected millions of tons of ice underground. Story filed: 09:45 Sunday 26th May 2002