Mars Odyssey Detects Signs of Water

BBC ^ | Friday, 14 December, 2001, 16:50 GMT | David Whitehouse

[JoeSchem]

These are the same arguments that were made for the new world (America); too costly and no profit.

No one explored America for the sake of long-term scientific knowledge. They came over to make quick money.

[RadioAstronomer]

And to find freedom! There are many SiFi books written about man's expansion into space for the sake of freedom, not wealth or knowlege.

[JoeSchem]

Take a look at the Drake equation. Base on the laws of probability alone, gives us a way of predicting if life is out there.

Every variable in the Drake equation is an assumption. The laws of probability only come into play when you multiply the variables together, and that doesn't change the danger of the Garbage In/Garbage Out.

[RadioAstronomer]

I do not disagree with you completely. :) However, the more we look, the more we find that the conditions and the building blocks for life exist elswhere.

[JoeSchem]

And to find freedom! There are many SiFi books written about man's expansion into space for the sake of freedom, not wealth or knowlege.

NASA will never find freedom in space. That's like expecting the post office to find a cure for cancer. It's not that they're stupid, it's just that's not their mission statement.

[RadioAstronomer]

I wasn't even thinking of NASA when I posted that.

[JoeSchem]

I wasn't even thinking of NASA when I posted that.

Well said.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Yes, I did see your post regarding the Drake equation, however I am not familier with it.

[RadioAstronomer]

I would certainly not use nuclear. What if life was still clinging tenaciously in that spot? Mars sample and return missions with core samples would be far less invasive. :)

[RadioAstronomer]

See here:

http://www.seti-inst.edu/science/drake-bg.html

[RadioAstronomer]

I agree completely!!!!!!!!!!! :)

[RadioAstronomer]

I helped with a Mars sample and returm proposal (a long time ago, Sigh!!!)

[RadioAstronomer]

I personally could not go along with a deception like that. Finding life outside of this planet alone will have both a huge geo-political and religeous impact on our view of the cosmos we inhabit. :)

[Exnihilo]

Really? What IS the probability of abiogenesis? What are the precursors necessary for this probability to hold? Do tell.

[Exnihilo]

I see absolutely no reason to assume that life exists anywhere else but on Earth.

[Centurion2000]

Mars could be explained by liquid Carbon Dioxide

No way .... let's see CO2 liquifies at about 6-7 Terran atmospheres (6000-7000 millibars) and the guy with this scenario expects to find that that in an atmosphere with an average pressure around 6 millibars ???

[freebilly]

So when's NASA gonna help commercialize immediate space, put bases on the moon and start bases on Mars? I'm looking forward to a future of going into risky interplanatary businesses.

I've received approval to sell a limited number of McDonald's franchises on Mars. They're a steal at $750,000. This is a ground floor opportunity not to be missed. All we need to get the ball rolling is $75,000. Okay?