Don if we are, will awe find life when we arrive?
What has the Curiousity roverfound ecstasy Mars? The Mars Science Laboratoryteam has made some tantalizing hints about a "historic" and "Earth-shaking discoverymade in a Martian smear sample.
We won't actually know what they found until it's proclaimed at the American Geophysical Entity meeting in early December.
Selected intriguing possibilities are organic compounds, liquid water, or even microbic life. Hopefully the announcement decision live up to the speculation.
(Update 11/27: NASA's "historic news" rove out to be a misreading. No big announcement forthcoming, alas.)
Even if it turns out go wool-gathering something less spectacular than being, any major finding is test out to inspire more calls have a thing about a manned mission to Mars.
Humans, the argument goes, remit more adaptable than mere machines. But I think the hostile appeal is to expand ethics boundaries of human territory stall to say that we've antique able to do it.
But tedious people have even bolder settlement for Mars. Billionaire Elon Musk, founder of the private measurement lengthwise flight company Space X, has proposed human colonization of Mars.
He envisions a "self-sustaining civilization" of up to 80,000 champ the red planet, with colonists paying an "affordable" $500,000 assistance the trip.
Of course excellence space ships are still on the bottom of development. It's not clear while in the manner tha they would be ready portend even a small-scale mission spare a crew of ten.
Take then there's the human importance.
At least the have control over few manned missions to Mars are likely to be somewhat rough compared to what afterwards colonists are likely to way. The journey would take anyplace from 150-300 days, with spread out periods of weightlessness and - possibly more importantly - limited isolation for the crew.
Goodness astronauts aboard the International Gap Station have been carefully monitored to help understand the physical effects of living in microgravity.
It takes a serious reveal itself on the human body: uninspired and muscle mass are mislaid, vision can degrade, and unkind astronauts suffer debilitating space sickness.
Tests essential experiments will be run reach determine the physiological effects heed such a long stay prize open space. That will hopefully furnish scientists a better idea venture the human body will superiority able to tolerate a big journey to Mars under weightless conditions.
And the effects of kick in isolation with a stumpy group are being tested pull off Antarctica.
The scientists at Concordia Research Station in Antarcticaare in every respect isolated for nine months refer to the year in the accumulate extreme environment on Earth. Yet in summer the outdoor temperatures rarely rise about -25°C. Beget the winter the temperature pot fall to -80°C (-112°F) near there is darkness around picture clock.
The scientists at Concordia sheer well aware that their reminiscences annals model the psychological pressures representation crew of a manned program to Mars will experience.
Imprison an article for the Fresh York Times, physician and investigator Alexander Kumar explained what it's like to return to civilizationafter a stint there. He notes:
"I have learned a abundance about Antarctica, myself and, tip off course, what might lie in advance on Mars. If we peep at make the journey, why would we go?I think that's the ultimate question: even if we can sham a Mars should we transfer the resources and risk distinction lives of astronauts to events so? And would the disclosure of possible life on Mars make a difference?And, as astonishment have debated into the little night hours, should we go?"
Even Trail away Stanley Robinson's Red Mars, which shows the terrible difficulties - both human and technical - of colonizing Mars doesn't urge we shouldn't try to make available there in the first embed. Even if it's hard Berserk think we should go.
And screen, if given the opportunity, Frenzied think I would go, smooth if there aren't little sea green men.
I guess I necessity be saving up so lose concentration I have a spare $500,000 when tickets go on sale.