Seven months after the Curiosity rover landed on Mars, scientists say the Red Planet could've supported life.

Powder drilled from an area once covered in water has been analysed by NASA.

They say it contains clays, sulfates and other minerals key to life.

SOUNDBITE: (English) MICHAEL MYER, LEAD SCIENTIST MARS EXPLORATION PROGRAM SAYING:

"Almost right off the bat we do find evidence of water and we see an ancient riverbed. We're now finding an environment in the near sub surface not too far beneath the oxidized layer of finding a sort of neutral rock, all the things we were certainly hoping for to find a place that could have been habitable in its past."

In the ancient riverbed, known as Yellowknife Bay, scientists say the water could've been similar to our own.

SOUNDBITE: (English) JOHN GROTZINGER, LEAD SCIENTIST OF THE MARS EXPLORATION PROGRAM, SAYING:

"I think we have found a habitable environment that is so benign, and supportive of life tha