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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?"

2 of 333 comments (clear)

  1. Contamination of Mars by BlueFashoo · · Score: 0, Redundant

    What about contamination of Mars? Although that's probably allready hapened. And it is not really of any great concern.

    ps. 3rd post!

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    Nice Marmot
  2. Asteroids by LiquidPC · · Score: 1, Redundant

    Couldn't an asteroid impact into mars shoot out debris and possibly bacteria, on that debris. The earth has been hit by many an asteroid, although not as evident due to weathering. Perhaps some of the bacteria currently around was shipped here through Fed-Asteroid-Ex. Of course, I could be wrong, because bacteria might not be able to survive something like this, but if it could attach to a shuttle and be carried back to earth, then I don't see why the previous wouldn't be possible.