Why Mars Is Not the Best Place To Look For Life 298
EccentricAnomaly writes "A story over at Science News quotes Alan Stern (former head of NASA Science missions) as saying: 'The three strongest candidates [for extraterrestrial life] are all in the outer solar system.' He's referring to Europa, Titan, and Enceladus. So why is NASA spending $2.5B on the next Mars Rover and planning to spend over $6B more on a Mars sample return when it can't find the money for much cheaper missions to Europa or Enceladus?"
Re:Because it's closer. (Score:5, Funny)
Mars is closer to us than Europa, Titan, and Enceladus. Not just physically, but culturally. Literature, film, etc,
Yes, that I have never quite gotten into or understood that Europan tentacle porn as much as I have the Martian three fingered face hugger porn. Titanian porn makes me feel inadequate.
Europa is off-limits. We can't land there. (Score:2, Funny)
All these worlds are yours, except Europa.
Attempt no landing there
Use them together
Use them in peace