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Mars Exploration Must Consider Contamination

Posted by timothy on from the or-they'd-feel-dumb dept.

letxa2000 writes: "CNN is reporting that the National Research Council has submitted a report to NASA that recommends certain precautions be taken if NASA is to send astronauts to Mars to guarantee that they don't bring back Mars-based bacteria and contaminate earth; including possibly banning the return vehicle from entering the Earth's atmosphere. What is the likelihood of bacterial life on Mars infecting the earth if we ever get around to visiting Mars in person?"

6 of 333 comments (clear)

  1. It doesn't hurt to take precautions by Mr.+Shiny+And+New · · Score: 5, Funny

    A transplanted organism with no 'predators' would be a bad thing. Just look at what happened to Australia after Bart brought his frog there.

  2. This has to be low risk, doesn't it? by NoMoreNicksLeft · · Score: 1, Funny

    Martian germs scare
    the scientists at NASA
    give spacemen Lysol

  3. Lessons by SkulkCU · · Score: 5, Funny


    I think great care should be taken.

    If I learned anything from the feature film Mission to Mars, it's that I should not have gone to see that movie. That, plus we have to be careful when we go to Mars. Yeah.

    My apologies to real films.

    --
    .sig last updated Jan. 14, 2000
  4. I don't see how there could be anything to worry.. by NoMoreNicksLeft · · Score: 2, Funny

    There once was a germ from the red planet
    that had scientists from NASA cursing "Dammit!"
    "If we send astronauts there,"
    "We'd better take care,"
    "And from orbit, this bug, we should ban it."

  5. Limerick by MrHat · · Score: 2, Funny

    Mars could be full of bacteria
    Like the cold, meningitis, diptheria
    So we'll permit them to land
    But only in sand
    In some remote place like Liberia

  6. The chances of anything coming from Mars... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    are a million to one, they said.

    The chances of anything coming from Mars
    are a million to one. But still - they come!

    - HG Wells, War of the worlds.