RE: starship-design: Mars sample return plan carries microbial risk, group warns

["L. Parker" <lparker@cacaphony.net>]

This was a major topic of discussion some time ago, and worth revisiting,
which is why I posted it. Besides, it has been slow on this group
lately...<G>

Seriously though, I think the greater danger is not from indigenous life
forms (those which are indigenous to Mars that is) but rather from something
which we import to Mars, which then mutates due to Mars' higher irradiation
and then gets shipped back to Earth. Such a life form would be adapted to
terrestrial prey, which since it is a mutation, may be defenseless.


Lee

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-starship-design@lists.uoregon.edu
> [mailto:owner-starship-design@lists.uoregon.edu]On Behalf Of Ben
> Franchuk
> Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2000 11:46 AM
> To: starship-design@lists.uoregon.edu
> Subject: Re: starship-design: Mars sample return plan carries
> microbial
> risk, group warns
>
>
> "L. Parker" wrote:
> >
> > Mars sample return plan carries microbial risk, group warns
>
> I think the risk of Martian life is very low. Other than a BLOB like
> attack from some swamp. Any martian life would be to well adapted
> what ever environment it lives in to survive on earth.Note I think
> once people go to Mars they should have the opportunity to stay there
> rather than return to Earth.Ben.
> PS. I hope this does not affect my Martian Property land prices.:)
> --
> "We do not inherit our time on this planet from our parents...
>  We borrow it from our children."
> "Luna family of Octal Computers"
> http://www.jetnet.ab.ca/users/bfranchuk