Protecting Mars from Earth germs
February 25th 2009 03:08
Mars already has life. But it didn't originate on the planet; it originated on Earth, and hitched a ride on the landers that have been sent there over the past few decades. Scientists are now more acutely aware of the ruggedness of microbes, and they are worried that if Earth microbes are able to survive and multiply, then they might disrupt Martian indigenous life (if it exists). To this end, they are refining some already existing protocols to minimise the risk of contamination (one of these is actually a UN accord that aims to protect celestial bodies from harmful contamination).
This article in New Scientist talks about a recent meeting of international experts who met to discuss this problem. Planned Mars missions will almost certainly incorporate these measures, and will be binding on both NASA and ESA (European Space Agency) programs.
Image of the planet Mars. From Federation of American Scientists
This article in New Scientist talks about a recent meeting of international experts who met to discuss this problem. Planned Mars missions will almost certainly incorporate these measures, and will be binding on both NASA and ESA (European Space Agency) programs.
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