Curiosity Lands on Mars
NASA's Mars program is a source of pride for all Americans. In sharp contrast to European and Japanese Mars missions of 2003-4, Spirit and Opportunity not only came down safely, they greatly exceeded mission lifespans. Amazingly, Opportunity continues to function on the Red Planet, eight years after it was projected to fail. Coming on top of these great achievements, the Curiosity rover survived a perilous descent into the Martian atmosphere and landed safely.
Curiosity will no doubt enhance our understanding of the Martian environment, past and present. It may even find tantalizing evidence of life. Gale crater, where it landed, is a particularly interesting site. But doubts may be raised as to whether Curiosity's $2.5 billion cost was the best investment in the search for alien life. It seems that Mars has commanded inordinate attention.
The Red Planet may be relatively close and easy to study; there is ample evidence of liquid water in its past. One can't help but suspect, however, that the current focus on Mars reflects, to some extent, a mystique born of science fiction. The reality is that Mars is a poor abode for life. Bitterly cold, bombarded by deadly radiation, almost airless and loaded with surface oxidants inimical to organic compounds, the Martian surface is extremely inhospitable. The planet itself is a mere tenth of Earth's mass. As we now know, the galaxy is teeming with planets more closely resembling our own in size, and potential habitability.
By now enough, and more than enough, has been invested in studies of the Red Planet. Future exobiological research should focus on exoplanets--finding more of them, and studying those deemed most like Earth. There should be fewer Mars missions and more like Kepler and Terrestrial Planet Finder.
Curiosity will no doubt enhance our understanding of the Martian environment, past and present. It may even find tantalizing evidence of life. Gale crater, where it landed, is a particularly interesting site. But doubts may be raised as to whether Curiosity's $2.5 billion cost was the best investment in the search for alien life. It seems that Mars has commanded inordinate attention.
The Red Planet may be relatively close and easy to study; there is ample evidence of liquid water in its past. One can't help but suspect, however, that the current focus on Mars reflects, to some extent, a mystique born of science fiction. The reality is that Mars is a poor abode for life. Bitterly cold, bombarded by deadly radiation, almost airless and loaded with surface oxidants inimical to organic compounds, the Martian surface is extremely inhospitable. The planet itself is a mere tenth of Earth's mass. As we now know, the galaxy is teeming with planets more closely resembling our own in size, and potential habitability.
By now enough, and more than enough, has been invested in studies of the Red Planet. Future exobiological research should focus on exoplanets--finding more of them, and studying those deemed most like Earth. There should be fewer Mars missions and more like Kepler and Terrestrial Planet Finder.
posted by starman at 6:00 AM
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