exploration or astro-pollution

[ving]

in an article on universe today (http://www.universetoday.com/am/publish/hopping_microbots.html?9122005) scientist have created a tiny hopping robot for exploring mars. the idea is to send a thousand (probably many more) to mars an unleash them so they can explore the planet. the hopping bots are "expendable" and therefore would be just left to pollute (in my opinoin) the surface of this near pristine uninhabitied planet.
are we going to leave rubbish there to make us feel more at home when/if we inhabit it???

http://www.universetoday.com/am/uploads/microbots-1.jpg

[astrogeek]

Sounds like us. I see us leaving earth when it becomes uninhabitable, settling on another planet and then just stuffing the new one up. Humans will never learn to respect the environment, says pesimistic little old me.

[beren]

Makes you wonder :confuse3: if not now how long would it before satellites etc are viewed as a form of pollution instead of a curiosity

[ving]

if only we could retrieve our junk...

[h0ughy]

nothing like making the universe just as it is on earth, then we should be at home. Typical american idea, are they plutonium powered as well???