Russia's Mars Mission Raising Concerns 245
eldavojohn writes "Space.com has a blog on Russia's Phobos-Grunt project designed to explore the planet further. He voices concerns about part of this exploration that is dubbed LIFE (Living Interplanetary Flight Experiment) and backed by The Planetary Society that involves sending several samples of Earth's hardiest microbes to see if they can survive the round trip voyage. Space.com's correspondent Leonard David did some legwork to ensure that The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 was being upheld as it prevents cross-contamination between planets and receives some interesting responses from experts on this mission. The Phobos-Grunt mission will also deploy a Chinese sub-satellite 'Firefly-1,' which will attempt to figure out how water on Mars disappeared. Unfortunately, The United States is not taking part in Phobos-Grunt."
Firefly!!! (Score:2, Funny)
Yes!
Joss is back!!
Way to go browncoats!!.....wait...damn....
Just Let Me Know... (Score:2, Funny)
...if they find any leather goddesses.
Re:RED (Score:3, Funny)
infocom tag (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Who cares? (Score:5, Funny)
"It's the tiny difference between finding extraterrestial life, or not. In exchange for... Absolutely nothing!"
If 1950s scifi movies have taught me anything, it is that "there are some things mankind was not meant to know"
Treaties Schmeaties (Score:1, Funny)
ensure that The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 was being upheld
Such treaties are only meant to hogtie the United States.
Re:Well a lot of people do care (Score:5, Funny)
Of course. Everyone knows that the primary difference between almost all intelligent life throughout the universe is forehead appearance.
United States? (Score:3, Funny)
I remember them! The OTHER failed state!
Re:The "New World" (Score:5, Funny)
No, but it can keep overpopulation (and other ills) from destroying every last vestige of civilization.
The dinosaurs died because they insisted on "fixing problems here on Earth first."
Australian Rabbits (Score:3, Funny)
Let's send some Australian Rabbits (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbits_in_Australia) to Mars instead.
The idea of importing rabbits into Australia seems to have worked out ok.
And the soil of Australia is red, just like Mars.
This should work.
Re:Spock cares! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:The "New World" (Score:5, Funny)
Considering they had 165 million years to develop a space program and get off this rock I'd say it is totally their fault.