[glend (Glen)]

Originally Posted by Suzy

If we aren't allowed to investigate the water on Mars (and apparently Curiosity is only 50 km away from it) due to a planetary protection international treaty signed in1967, I wonder how we can test it further . Where do we go now with science .


Here’s why NASA’s Mars rovers are banned from investigating that liquid water

Summary of the NASA briefing by Emily Ladawalla from The Planetary Society.

Suzy it is all about the level of decontamination conducted before it left earth. In order to 'engage' with the aquafier it would needed to have been through a more intense decontamination. They can't risk contamination at this point, so whatevrr is sent to analyse the water is only looking at and discovering Martian water composition and whatever it supports.