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After Phoenix, What Then? windbag 05-23-2008
Posted by windbag on May 23, 2008, 6:00 pm
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 It seems fairly certain that the Phoenix lander will put the final
nail in the coffin of life on Mars. The conditions for life's
emergence belong to a very exclusive club, possibly requiring deep
undersea vents and the presence of a protective lunar body. Mars might
have once sported a deep, mainly frozen salt lake across half the
surface. It would have taken a Dr. Frankenstein to put life's spark
into any aminos in that environment.

Which of course raises the question: if no question remains as to the
non-existance of life on a given planet, would it be okay to start
planting some there ourselves?

How long before the Martian poles can get a sprinkling of our own
planet's ice-loving microorganisms?

Posted by Ralph on May 27, 2008, 11:48 am
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 Simply put, science is doing its job in a logical fashion.

We're exploring the nearest planetary body that's even moderately
convenient. (read realistic)

The moon has no atmosphere, and is tough to deal with, that way. Radiation
and temperature are extreme.
We'll go there anyway, just because it's close.

Venus is closer than Mars, but with +800 degree temperatures in an
atmosphere 90 times as dense, and laden with sulphuric acid,
also tough to take.

We will cover this ground (Mars) until we can get elsewhere!



> It seems fairly certain that the Phoenix lander will put the final
> nail in the coffin of life on Mars. The conditions for life's
> emergence belong to a very exclusive club, possibly requiring deep
> undersea vents and the presence of a protective lunar body. Mars might
> have once sported a deep, mainly frozen salt lake across half the
> surface. It would have taken a Dr. Frankenstein to put life's spark
> into any aminos in that environment.
>
> Which of course raises the question: if no question remains as to the
> non-existance of life on a given planet, would it be okay to start
> planting some there ourselves?
>
> How long before the Martian poles can get a sprinkling of our own
> planet's ice-loving microorganisms?


Posted by BradGuth on June 8, 2008, 1:35 am
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> It seems fairly certain that the Phoenix lander will put the final
> nail in the coffin of life on Mars. The conditions for life's
> emergence belong to a very exclusive club, possibly requiring deep
> undersea vents and the presence of a protective lunar body. Mars might
> have once sported a deep, mainly frozen salt lake across half the
> surface. It would have taken a Dr. Frankenstein to put life's spark
> into any aminos in that environment.
>
> Which of course raises the question: if no question remains as to the
> non-existance of life on a given planet, would it be okay to start
> planting some there ourselves?
>
> How long before the Martian poles can get a sprinkling of our own
> planet's ice-loving microorganisms?

Life on Mars needs to be rad-hard, and otherwise tough as nails.

Next should be Venus, or at least that of our once upon a time icy
moon.

If time and money are not a problem, then perhaps IO.

Brad Guth Brad_Guth Brad.Guth BradGuth

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