The problem is finding evidence that Venus once had life may be
quite difficult, not only because of the nasty conditions all across
the planet now, but plus the fact that it looks like about 500 MYA
the entire surface was resurfaced in a massive laval upheaval.
And as for meteorites ejected via impact from Venus on Earth (or
the Moon or still floating in deep space), I don't know how we are
going to identify them as such at this time, to say nothing of hoping
they have a Venusian fossil or two on them.
Grinspoon and others have said there may be simple life forms under
the planet's surface, where the temperatures are even (and they are
away from the sulfuric acid permeating the air), or they may be way
up in the nicer (read more Earth-like) parts of the Venusian atmosphere.
I wonder if we could put some kind of collector on a balloon in the
planet's atmosphere, then have the samples shot into space via a
rocket system, where they could either be sent straight back to Earth
or rendezvous with an orbital return system? Even if no life forms are
found, the mission will hardly be a waste, as we will have our first
direct samples of Venus' air.
Space/Science » in reply to My point is...
re: My point is...
The whole thread (34 posts)
- There is a place in the solar system away from Earth (not artificial) where conditions are much more similar to our world than what we find on Mars....Where is it? (n/t)