White House Briefed On Potential For Mars Life

SpaceRef ^ | 7/31 | Craig Covault

[djf]

he White House has been alerted by NASA about plans to make an announcement soon on major new Phoenix lander discoveries concerning the "potential for life" on Mars, scientists tell Aviation Week & Space Technology.

Sources say the new data do not indicate the discovery of existing or past life on Mars. Rather the data relate to habitability--the "potential" for Mars to support life--at the Phoenix arctic landing site, sources say.

[djf]

Why do I get the feeling that they are getting us ready to announce something major...???

[dragnet2]

Could very well happen.

Those that believe earth is the only planet in this universe likely to have some form of life, are pretty closed minded in my opinion.

[Psycho_Bunny]

If they found even a microbe, it would be the most interesting event of my lifetime.

[djf]

In fact it’s very, very likely. They have found Mars rocks at the north pole. Odds are almost certain that at some time in the past, Earths rocks got blasted to space and a few at least found their way to Mars.

[aft_lizard]

All much ado about nothing IMO. There is a big difference between potential to carry life and evidence that it carried life. If they discovered evidence of life then it would be big news IMO.

[dragnet2]

It would change everything in regards to earth, and our species.

In addition, if life of some form is eventually discovered to exist, or discovered to have previously existed on Mars, it will be the biggest story ever for this planet.

It would be like the gold rush in 1840s America. The search and exploration for other life would literally explode.

[Cementjungle]

If they found even a microbe, it would be the most interesting event of my lifetime.

It would be interesting indeed. It would however take some doing to convince people that it's not something we introduced (despite loads of precautions) ourselves with one of our probes.

[dragnet2]

I have a few favorite images of Mars. This is one of them.

On May 19th, 2005, NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit captured this stunning view as the Sun sank below the rim of Gusev crater on Mars. This Panoramic Camera mosaic was taken around 6:07 in the evening of the rover's 489th martian day, or sol. Spirit was commanded to stay awake briefly after sending that sol's data to the Mars Odyssey orbiter just before sunset. The image is a false color composite, showing the sky similar to what a human would see, but with the colors slightly exaggerated. (NASA/JPL/Texas A&M/Cornell)

[libh8er]

Other than temperature and atmospheric pressure/CO2, Mars is not that different from parts of Nevada.

[brytlea]

Thanks for posting that shot. Wonderful!
susie

[Always Right]

Old news...

[libh8er]

Oh come on. Everyone knows that’s the south rim of the Grand Canyon. :)

[djf]

The interesting part about this is not that they are saying there is a potential for life. A 12 year old schoolboy with a bit of science under his belt could make a good argument for that.

There are probably 46 forms of lichens on Earth that would find Mars to be a great place to hang!

The interesting part is that they went and told the folks on Pennsylvania ave. And then announced to the world that they did so.

[libh8er]

My gosh! Hiding in plain sight.

[dragnet2]

Another one of my favorite images.

Clouds above the rim of "Endurance Crater" in this image from NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity. These clouds occur in a region of strong vertical shear. The cloud particles (ice in this martian case) fall out, and get dragged along away from the location where they originally condensed, forming characteristic streamers. Opportunity took this picture with its navigation camera during the rover's 269th martian day (Oct. 26, 2004). (NASA/JPL)

[xjcsa]

Those that believe earth is the only planet in this universe likely to have some form of life, are pretty closed minded in my opinion.

Thinking it's unlikely is closed-minded? Ridiculous. You sound like a lib when you say that.

[Pyro7480]

Those are cirrus clouds! Nice... Of course, ice clouds can form anywhere there’s water.

[cw35]

Somebody sent me this regarding the size of the universe. It’s very interesting but I question whether it’s true or at least its conclusions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgg2tpUVbXQ

[Signalman]

Where’s the guy running the hot dog stand?

[dragnet2]

Thinking it's unlikely is closed-minded? Ridiculous. You sound like a lib when you say that.

Hmmm...I added that was *my* opinion. I guess to have an opinion equates to being liberal in your mind.