life on mars?

[Oh8ch]

I like to think it's more a philosophical question than a technological question.
You either believe in extra-terrestrial life or you don't (evangelicals).

I like to think just the opposite. The more we pay attention to empirical evidence the more likely our beliefs are to be correct.

I love philosophical arguments, but we now know enough about the universe to move the et-life question out of the purely philosophical realm.

The probability that life exists elsewhere in its most basic form (i.e. something less than intelligent life) is almost certain. I don't know how likely it is that such life either developed or 'landed' on Mars, but it would not surprise me if it had.

(Of course, if you want to make it theological rather than philosophical - well, I think I'll just wander over the the RR and look at some titties.)

 

[CookyPuss]

I like to think just the opposite. The more we pay attention to empirical evidence the more likely our beliefs are to be correct.

I love philosophical arguments, but we now know enough about the universe to move the et-life question out of the purely philosophical realm.

The probability that life exists elsewhere in its most basic form (i.e. something less than intelligent life) is almost certain. I don't know how likely it is that such life either developed or 'landed' on Mars, but it would not surprise me if it had.

(Of course, if you want to make it theological rather than philosophical - well, I think I'll just wander over the the RR and look at some titties.)

Well, I'm afraid it will remain a largely "philosophical" question until evidence of life is found on Mars or another planet. Of course, there will be plenty of conspiracy theorists and religious fanatics who will deny and explain it away. (Maybe I should join you in the RR).

 

[Thump]

NASA says Mars craft "touched and tasted" water - Yahoo! News

 

[GoodLifeSean]

Holy Shit, the Martians are bigger than our planet... RUN!!

 

[Muck]

AviationWeek

The White House has been alerted by NASA about plans to make an announcement soon on major new Phoenix lander discoveries concerning the "potential for life" on Mars, scientists tell Aviation Week & Space Technology.

Sources say the new data do not indicate the discovery of existing or past life on Mars. Rather the data relate to habitability--the "potential" for Mars to support life--at the Phoenix arctic landing site, sources say.

The data are much more complex than results related NASA's July 31 announcement that Phoenix has confirmed the presence of water ice at the site.

International news media trumpeted the water ice confirmation, which was not a surprise to any of the Phoenix researchers. "They have discovered water on Mars for the third or fourth time," one senior Mars scientists joked about the hubbub around the water ice announcement.

The other data not discussed openly yet are far more "provocative," Phoenix officials say.

In fact, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory science team for the MECA wet-chemistry instrument that made the findings was kept out of a July 31 news conference at the University of Arizona Phoenix control center. The goal was to prevent them from being asked any questions that could reveal information before NASA is ready to make an announcement, sources say.

The Bush Administration's Presidential Science Advisor's office, however, has been briefed on the new information that NASA hopes to release as early as mid August. It is possible an announcement would not come until September, to allow for additional analysis. That will depend upon the latest results still being analyzed from the spacecraft's organic oven and soil chemistry laboratories.

.../cont/...

 

[OCBucksFan]

NASA says Mars craft "touched and tasted" water - Yahoo! News

 

[Mac]

I tell you what, this is what you can do to see if life is sustainable on Mars. Take a freaking plant and plant it in that red ground and then track how it's doing.

Either way you'll find out some good info lol

 

[Best Buckeye]

If Blondes are from Venus and redheads are from Mars then........
JUst wondering how they expect Mars to be able to support life when the planet temp reaches into the hundreds on the sunny side. Of course it is possible that there is a strain of creatures that can withstand those temps.

 

[Muck]

JUst wondering how they expect Mars to be able to support life when the planet temp reaches into the hundreds on the sunny side. Of course it is possible that there is a strain of creatures that can withstand those temps.

Huh?

Mars is cold. We're talkin' -200 degrees F cold. The hottest is gets at the equator during the summer time is around +80 degrees F. The rest of the time it's mostly below freezing.

 

[LadyBuckeye]

 

[Jimmy Carter]

VERY interesting.

WASHINGTON (AFP) – A journey from Earth to Mars could soon take just 39 days -- cutting current travel time nearly six times -- according to a rocket scientist who has the ear of the US space agency.
Franklin Chang-Diaz, a former astronaut and a physicist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), says reaching the Red Planet could be dramatically quicker using his high-tech VASIMR rocket, now on track for lift-off after decades of development.


Scientist eyes 39-day voyage to Mars - Yahoo! News

 

[scarletandgrey]

I need one of these rockets to hook up to the back of my VW

 

[scooter1369]

I need one of these rockets to hook up to the back of my VW

I need one to tie to a few politicians

 

[Mike80]

 

[Thump]

Have to be honest, I don't know that I see the real point and cost of going to Mars.

I do not believe we'll see people on Mars and returned safely to Earth in my lifetime.

I don't see the govt. just throwing wads of cash NASA's way like we have in the past.

Take that money and spend it on the development of green technologies.