Space/Science — HabitableZone

Space/Science » in reply to Shucks, I Didn't Really Want Him To Shut Up

Contamination from Mars
Tom Brosz — (archived)

While I normally would sooner climb into one of these Mars discussions as jump into the middle of a barroom brawl, I'd like to throw two cents worth in:

I think reasonable precautions against back contamination from Mars are a good idea. The definitions of "reasonable" could certainly be further argued. I'm not as laid back about the problem as Zubrin, but I don't think an Earth-orbital rendezvous back at Earth is necessary either. Personally, I think a cannister for direct Earth return of samples could be easily designed to be as near-indestructible as similar cannisters for nuclear material.

I have seen nothing that proves to my satisfaction that there is life on Mars, but I have seen nothing that shows it to be a totally hostile environment to life either. It's the stuff you're not looking for that surprises you. That's why they're called surprises.

And I remember those bacteria that survived three years on the lunar surface on Surveyor 3.

Actually, if you want to know the real problem with Mars contamination, it's going to be colonizing Mars with OUR bugs. You can irradiate probes and such, but if people ever get there, you can kiss pristine Mars goodbye.

Log in or register to post.

The whole thread (72 posts)