Posted on 12/13/2004 2:40:12 PM PST by tricky_k_1972
Who are we to question how the creator works?
I know I'm not qualified. Does the creation of life in any way he sees fit (not that I'm saying this is how he did it) have any affect whatsoever on our own salvation?
I don't see it.
My point is the reasons that life as we know it cannot practically exist on Mars today applies to the past as well.
The evidence that there was once liquid water on Mars is pretty conclusive at this point. The Martian environment was very different a billion years ago than it was today. It was not nearly as cold as it is today, because there was much more of an atmosphere to trap in the heat (the "greenhouse effect").
So, unfortunately, your point doesn't really apply, because conditions on Mars today are nothing like they were a billion years ago, when it is thought life might have arisen on Mars.
And, let us not forget, this talk of Martian life is pure speculation at this point. Just because the conditions on ancient Mars could have led to life doesn't mean it did arise. That's one reason we need to step up exploration of Mars; to settle those questions.
"Mankind" MUST "Go On,"----or we Perish.
Humankind MUST "Go On," or we "Involute," & Perish!!
Doc
The President's Commission on Moon, Mars and Beyond says that lack of private property rights will strangle any nascent space industry in the cradle. I would agree that the lack of private property rights is further guaranteed since the signing of the 196 UN Outer Space Treaty.
Worry about that, Mars will take care of itself.
(We should move both Mars and Venus to a point in earth's orbit where they could form a stable planet-and-moon system. Then we should develop at least Venus and sell real estate.)
There was a thread earlier that talked about moving planets.Use Mercury as a moon for Venus, and let me reiterate my claim to mineral rights to Mercury.
Do you think Apollo was a "waste"? Say goodbye to scratch-resistant lenses, freeze-dried food, athletic shoes, CAT scans, MRIs, cool suits, cordless power tools, transistors, and a host of other technologies, some of which are listed here.
In terms of energy for Earth, you might be more interested in the potential to be had on the Moon. Someone in this thread mentioned the possibility of Helium-3 mining, which is a terrific energy source. Also look to orbiting solar collectors, which beam electricity to Earth via microwaves. But that's not germane to the question of colonizing Mars.
Trying to find microbes on Mars really does`nt seem to have useful purpose.
You don't think knowing whether life on Earth is unique in the solar system (let alone the universe) is "useful"? Granted, it doesn't put food on anybody's table, but you yourself mentioned the profound theological implications. Isn't it better that such truths be proven, even if they have bad implications for your own religion? (And I'm not sure that would be the case...)
Many of the same scientists that are behind this say we will destroy life here within the next century.
Well if all life "here" (Earth) will be destroyed, all the more reason to get some (human) life in other places! (I'm being partially facetious; I don't subscribe to the idea that we'll destroy the Earth, but I think there's at least a slight chance that an asteroid or some other natural phenomenon might do the job for us, and that slight chance alone is reason enough to spread ourselves out.)
This is no where near a time needed to solve all the problems of trying to populate any solar body. For this reason I think a lot of this is pushed in academia for the purpose of diverting resources that could be better spent on our current protection, missile defense etc.
The problems are being solved without the government's intervention; it's a question of implementation. Given the way our government's budgeting process works, it's not like a dollar not spent on Mars will be spent on ABM systems; that is almost certainly not the motive for scientists to push Mars (or Moon) exploration. There are a bunch of good reasons to do so, which hopefully I've mentioned in this thread, not least of which is the fact that if we don't we condemn our species to die on this single, fragile, planet, if not tomorrow, then sometime in the far future. Either way, I don't want to see us leave this universe.
I have prior claim to the Asteroids. You all can fight it out for the planets.
Whoa. Tugging comets around and interfering with orbits is what caused the big crash in our solar system. Will we never learn?
See back of moon, and valle marinaris. Matching boo-boo's?
(dibs on the parka and hot chocolate concession)
So anyway, there was this martian spacecraft that landed in this farmers field. The farmer and his wife were very frightened as it landed about 40 yards from their back porch. Suddenly the door to the spacecraft slowly opened and 2 seemingly human like creatures walk out and up to the porch where the farmer and his wife were watching. The male martian raised his right hand in a sign of peace and then spoke and said, "We are from Mars and come in peace on a scientific mission." So after a few moments the farmer invited the two aliens into the house whereupon the martian and his female martian companion spoke and asked questions about the earth, entertainment, politics, oceans, continents,and every conceivable subjectmatter. Then the subject of reproduction came up and the martian asked how humans reproduce. So the farmer explaind the conjugal act. The martian said "Well, that is very similar to how it is done on mars." He then propositioned the farmer to allow him to experience the act with a human and let his female martian companion experience the act with him. Well the farmer got somewhat riled up at this proposition, saying " We don't act like that here on the earth." The martian explained it was for scientific endeavors and slowly convinced the farmer to consent. So the male martian and the farmers wife retired to the barn. She was somewhat confused when he disrobed and saw a tiny vestigeal member presented. She laughed and said "That certainly won't work." The martian said why. She said because, well, not want to hurt his feelings, said well, its too small. So the martian reached up to his right ear and twisted it. At that instant his pecker emerged about 9 inches and looked like a pencil. The farmers wife said, well, thats better, but it still won't work. The martian said "Why"? She said the diameter,...its, its too skinny. Whereupon the martian took his left hand and twisted his left ear. Suddenly the martins member looked like a hot house cucumber. She said, "That will work." Once the conjugation was completed, they returned to the house and there was a somewhat perturbed farmer washing the coffee cups. He said to his wife, "Well, how did it go?" She said "Great, really great." The farmer was fuming. She said to her husband, "How was it for you?" He said, "It was awful." The wife asked "Why?". The farmer replied curtly, "The bitch kept trying to rip off my ears."...............................Uh Oh...I thought it said "Wife Swapping on Mars"
ping
I have a belief as to the uniqueness of life hear on Earth.You`re correct this is a religious matter but setting that aside if we are not unique in the solar system or universe what does it really matter.Would proving that be justification for the expense of doing it.Our lives and outcome will not be changed just by knowing this.If hostilities are feared all I can say is I try not to worry to much about things that I have no control over.
There is a scientific agenda that has nothing to do with science and a lot to do with undermining the US.I do not wish to speak ill of the dead,but I remember Carl Sagan saying once that it was his dream for a new year(I don`t remember which one)that the defense budget be used to fund trying to land a man on Mars.
This was the scientist whose name was used to validate various ideas like a nuclear freeze and a nuclear winter.He had a leftist agenda and used "science"to vindicate it.
With that, this has been fun and as said before we all need to agree to disagree.Hope no feelings were hurt.Thanks.
(It's 1967; no bad on the typo.) That is indeed a significant hurdle to overcome. Or is it? just how difficult is it to withdraw from a treaty? I think it could be as simple as saying "we withdraw from the treaty". (China did sign in 1983, I note.)
On the plus side, Congress did pass the Space Tourism Bill, which is a HUGE step forward. Small steps...
Refreshing to hear scientists admit that they know very little about how life started and how long it took to get where we are today!
"Big crash"? Somebody's been reading too many books by Erik von Daniken and Zecharia Sitchen.
We won't withdraw from the 1967 Treaty. We should. There will be no private development of outer space. The State will not allow it until the State is firmly in charge in the new territory. We won't see it this century or next--it's nearly too late anyway. Seek enjoyment from the particle of land on earth the State allows the citizen to own.
But you'll note they are not anywhere near to claiming it's only 6,000 years old. 5.7 billion... 5.9 billion... that's a scientific debate. 6,000... that's a joke.
Once the government figures out it will make more in taxes from encouraging private space development than it will gain from maintaining a monopoly on space development, it'll happen faster than you can imagine.
And that's just started. Congress passed the Space Tourism act. I give it three years before we see a huge government commitment to privitization of space.
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