Viking Mars Mission Might Have Missed Life

Johan Louwers writes "The Viking mars mission in 1976 might have missed signs of life due to not completely working analysis equipment. GC-MS on the Viking 1976 Mars missions did not detect organic molecules on the Martian surface, even those expected from meteorite bombardment. This result suggested that the Martian regolith might hold a potent oxidant that converts all organic molecules to carbon dioxide rapidly relative to the rate at which they arrive. This conclusion is influencing the design of Mars missions. We reexamine this conclusion in light of what is known about the oxidation of organic compounds generally and the nature of organics likely to come to Mars via meteorite."

Comments

Sign of the times.

[Rob T Firefly]

Ask anyone who was around in 1976, they probably wouldn't count that year as the time of their life in which they were the most lucid and observant of their surroundings.

Re:Sign of the times.

[aadvancedGIR]

In 1976, I spent most of my lucid time observing my surroundings, then, in 77, I learned to walk to see something else.

missed?

[FooAtWFU]

Viking Mars Mission Might Have Missed Life

Damn. Well, let's get the next one ready. We'll nail the little buggers this time, for sure!

Re:missed?

[clickclickdrone]

Newsflash: NASA discover terrorists on Mars. Bush orders them to send some marines on the next mission.

Re:missed?

[uncoveror]

Viking didn't miss a thing. Its more startling discoveries were covered up. Read more and more and more!

Obligatory conspiracy theorist answer

[BeeBeard]

That's just what they want us to think.

Re:Obligatory conspiracy theorist answer

[Anonymous Coward]

That's just what they want us to think.

Would "they" be the government or the martians?

Re:Obligatory conspiracy theorist answer

[BeeBeard]

Yes.

How rude.

[Honest Olaf]

At least when Martians launch missions to Earth, they have the courtesy to say "Hi". Even if it's with a million-degree super-laser.

Re:Another remote possibility...

[Dunbal]

That's like saying "I've never seen a yellow-dotted purple kangaroo, but I may have been looking in the wrong direction so they probably exist."

      G'day mate! You've probably ne'er tried any of these mushrooms - here you go. See the 'roo now, mate?

Testing for Life on Mars

[TechForensics]

One of the earlier Viking missions had a test that burned a small sample of soil to see if carbon were produced; if yes, Life! I have always thought this experiment was misconceived, as it would not have proved the existence of life on Mars. It would have proved there USED TO BE life on Mars-- we killed it!

with apologies to Father Guido Sarducci...

Typical

[Anonymous Coward]

Never send a Viking to do a Norseman's job.

Why should there be ANY future missions?

[patio11]

Seriously, for $400 million or whatever it takes to send a single unmanned probe to Mars for a few weeks or months before the probe dies, we could either a) accomplish many somethings of genuine use back on Earth or b) learn a heck of a lot more about extreme environment microbes by studying the extreme environments that we have all freaking around us which can be studied *without* needing to put the experimental apparatus on a rocket first. Surely biologists would learn more from funding, oh, say a hundred trips to the bottom of the ocean/South African uranium mines/glacier ice/whatever than they do from another trip to what is, in all likelyhood, still just a big dead red rock.