Space/Science — HabitableZone

Space/Science » in reply to I was at the SPIE hawaii conference

Re: SPIE hawaii conference
BD — (archived)

I am interested in astrobiology and its application to planetary protection for our planet and other planets as well. I feel the Viking biological experiments may have found microbial life in 1976 as opposed to unknown oxidants which mimick life. This tells us that whatever is still alive in the Martian soil would be a very hardy type of organism. Before we bring samples back, we should send more spacecraft like Beagle 2 which carry life detection instruments and microscopes.

So R.L., who are you? What planetary science establisment or university do you work for to be able to make such criticisms?

ICAMSR was composed of many professional scientists and informed citizens who oppsosed NASA/France MSR approach that used Earth as a catchers mit. It seems MSR has gone by the wayside now. Hopefully a more careful program will be set up after a life sciences survey has been conducted on the planets surface in a variety of locations.

It appears that NASA's Planetary Protection Officer - John Rummel seems to think your views on planetary protection are flawed at best. Here are some links for you to get an education about this subject (although I doubt highly you want one). Let me guess your agenda..human colonies on Mars right?

http://www4.nationalacademies.org/onpi/webextra.nsf/web/Mars?OpenDocument

http://www.planetary.org/html/news/opinions/caution.html

http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10138.html

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