When this comes up, I step back from the question itself and look at NASA's budget and mission. Should they be searching for extraterrestrial life at all?
Probably they should, but it shouldn't be their main reason for exploring Mars.
The question of going beyond exploring to the idea of colonizing is also something NASA needn't be involved in. The private sector will do that at their own expense as soon as property rights are established.
I agree. Exploration has always been the provenance of the adventurer or the merchant with the main objective being fame and/or fortune. Any kind of life found on Mars should be looked at as a side benefit, not the purpose for being there.
The private sector will do that at their own expense as soon as property rights are established.
I like the idea, but I'm skeptical about it. I can't see NASA and property rights in the same paragraph without thinking about the internationalism of the NASA culture.
I saw Armstrong step on the moon in '69, and say the "...one giant leap for mankind" thing. I remember us all looking at one another wondering "what was that all about", after all Americans footed the bill for that mission. 1969 was the high point for NASA, now all they do is send out probes that don't work half the time.
It's true NASA's budget isn't what it use to be, but that's what happens to a government agency after the politicians don't need it any longer. Government can screw up anything it gets its hand on, so I'd like to see private companies get into space and do some "for profit" development there. If life was found by accident that would be great. Getting past the internationalists might be a problem though.