Salty Sea Covered Part of Mars: 'Excellent' Site to Search for Past Life

Space.com ^ | 3/23/04 | Robert Roy Britt

[Fitzcarraldo]

One useful system would be a seismic 'thumper' and detector array to map the boundaries between the sediments and the rock basement (probably basalt) in the Meridiani area.

[NathanR]

What does the Smithsonian have to do with anything? It's marvelous entertainment to be sure, but still entertainment at the taxpayers' expense.

Are you aware that the Smithsonian was bankrolling some big time honcho who was crashing aeroplanes into the Potomac at the same time that the Wright brothers were developing their airplane? This "socialism" as you call it has been going on since the birth of the Republic.

[RightWhale]

If Halliburton is involved, which they probably are, they may have a thumper on the drawing boards already. It's a good idea. NASA has a panel looking at suggestions for the new space program and they take email.

[capitan_refugio]

Off-Earth seismic experiments have been done in the past. I believe there was one on the moon, but possibly Mars, where a spent part of a satellite was sent crashing into the planet/moon. This is from memory. I'm going to have to look it up.

[RightWhale]

That was done on the moon with very little result. It is also going to be done to a comet or asteroid shortly. Smash it and see what happens. On the moon they had hoped to splash up some hydrogen.

[GeronL]

This "socialism" as you call it has been going on since the birth of the Republic.

ppsssttt!! Thats a terrible arguement! =o)

[BikerNYC]

...if they do find life on Mars, they will also find that life came from Earth...

Or vice versa.

[shield]

I once felt the same way as you do. Below is a great book to read, it is amazing information.

The Creator and the Cosmos: How the Greatest Scientific Discoveries of the Century Reveal God by Hugh, Ph.D. Ross

"THE HEAVENS ARE TELLING THE GLORY OF GOD; AND THE FIRMAMENT PROCLAIMS HIS HANDIWORK."-Psalm 19:1 Few of us can venture outside on a clear, dark night and not pause for a silent, reflective look at the stars. For countless centuries people have felt a sense of wonder about the heavens. How did our universe come into being? Has it always been here? Is our existence due to random chance or supernatural design? Is God "out there"? If so, what is He like?

Traditionally, the church has answered such questions with Scripture, while science has contributed theories and formulas of its own. Torn between a deep respect for church doctrines and an intellectual need for answers that support what their senses are telling them, many Christians have avoided such discussions altogether.

Actually, the two sides are no longer that far apart. In The Creator and the Cosmos, astrophysicist Dr. Hugh Ross explains how recent scientific measurements of the universe have clearly pointed to the existence of God. Whether you're looking for scientific support for your faith or new reasons to believe, The Creator and the Cosmos will enable you to see the Creator for yourself.

"A compelling summary of scientific evidence that supports belief in God and the Word of God, written on a level even the non-technically trained lay person can understand."-Walter L. Bradley, professor and head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University

"In The Creator and the Cosmos, Dr. Hugh Ross shows how recent cosmological discoveries clearly indicate the universe was created with many characteristics fine-tuned for our life. Though many scientists may resist the logical conclusion, the Creator implied by the scientific evidence is exactly consistent with the God revealed in the Bible."-Dr. Kyle M. Cudworth, Yerkes Observatory, University of Chicago

[capitan_refugio]

Thanks for the information. I was able to round up this on a google:

http://ganymede.ipgp.jussieu.fr/dgsp/NL-2001b.pdf

[BikerNYC]

That's all well and good, but how does Dr. Ross' theory require that any life which may be found to have existed on Mars must have come from Earth?

It would seem that the deity's fine-tuning of Earth to support life might also have occured on Mars.

[NathanR]

"Thats a terrible arguement! "

In what way?

[shield]

You need to read the book, you'll be amazed. I know I was. I felt like you about life elsewhere, Ross proves factually how that is not possible. This is not a theory.

[GeronL]

Are you aware that the Smithsonian was bankrolling some big time honcho who was crashing aeroplanes into the Potomac at the same time that the Wright brothers were developing their airplane? This "socialism" as you call it has been going on since the birth of the Republic

Thats supposed to be an argument in favor of government funded research?

[NathanR]

That was an answer as to what the Smithsonian had to do with anything.

I may have libertarian tendencies, but government has a place and things like police and fire are some of them. Philosophers have always had patrons, and in this country that would be the government.

[GeronL]

I think the fire department should work through a subscription. Even Libertarians think I am nuts on some of this.

[NathanR]

That was tried. The problem is that the fire companies actually set fires in order to drum up business.

[Soviet]

This looks a lot like Afganistan

[RightWhale]

That makes Meridiani Planum a prime target for future missions that would search for evidence of past biology.

NASA is still on the 'search for life' kick. This is a wild goose chase. NASA should concentrate on designing a self-sufficient science station for Mars--manned.

[from occupied ga]

Please do not follow me from thread to thread

You flatter yourself vastly.

or post to me anymore.

Quid pro quo. You quit your rude comments to people who disagree with you and confine yourself to issues and I'll quit posting to you.

[from occupied ga]

Are you aware that the Smithsonian was bankrolling some big time honcho who was crashing aeroplanes into the Potomac

No I wasn't; however, this would seem to support my thesis that private spending is more productive.