Posted on 12/06/2006 1:04:26 PM PST by Henry Lane
The hype surrounding potential water and life is a good example of how a scientists' and bureaucrats' funding ambitions can shape what is scientifically "respectable".
Dramatic new pictures suggest Mars has flowing liquid water on its surface, significantly increasing the chances that there could be life on the Red Planet.
Anyone who speculated about life on Mars was once thought to be a kook. NASA then figured out how to use the potential of life on Mars to justify its budget, a credulous news media went along and now Serious Scientists openly speculate on the matter.
The pattern is general and one should keep it in mind when hearing about global warming claims.
(Excerpt) Read more at theradix.blogspot.com ...
NASA can probably beat the free market in getting a handful of people to Mars, but for mass colonizition, it will take a market. The government could help with tax incentives and establishing property rights in space, e.g., for precious metals on asteroids.
Interesting but bogus. NASA is tasked by Congress to maintain USA preeminence in space.
Repeal the Treaty and open a Land Office. The Land Office will need a budget, but its revenues should more than pay for staff and office furniture.
I have a letter from my Senator that says withdrawal from the Treaty may prove necessary, but it won't happen until the private sector makes enough noise.
Hypothetical: life, even of a very simple kind, is discovered on Mars.
Question: how does this inform the evolution/intelligent design debate?
Discuss amongst yourselves.
It's been discussed on several threads today and on prior days. Christians would be fine with it. The question is how it would impact the islamists.
Deception Point redux?
Interesting but bogus. NASA is tasked by Congress to maintain USA preeminence in space.
Do you know what mission creep is..........
I seriously doubt ALL Christians would be OK with it. If you disagree I have some people you need to meet.
What about islamists? Aren't there ANY moslems at all on this BBS?
So today`s announcement is just a part of a Rovian conspiracy to keep spending money on space exploration? Gotta get my tinfoil hat. *wink*
IMHO they have bigger Earthbound problems that kinda distract them from possible microbes on Mars.
Always. They might as well carve them in stone so they can toss them out into the argument anytime they don't want to do something. That was the downfall of the Neanderthal. That was the downfall of every civilization and empire ever.
More importantly; if life is discovered, how long before the hippie crowd gets it declared a 'biosphere reserve' thus closing it to any future development?
I'm waiting for them to oppose the proposed and more likely near term settlement of the Moon.
FYI & FWIW, technically, FR is not a "BBS"...
Apparently some were extremely annoyed when they heard that Apollo astronauts were walking on 'their' moon.
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