Even if no trace of life on Mars it simply means we have not found anything on one planet..even if the signs are there we may not pick the right spot...and there are many more places to go both in our solar system and far far away.
But they will conclude something and as you observe Craig that is a step forward really.
It is interesting goggling re alien life (in general).
I turned up one of the guys who had been to the Moon declaring NASA is covering the truth and that they (aliens) are already here

.... but so far there seems to be no evidence

...which means they are covering something up by conspiracy theorists approach

.
But that guy must be such an embarrasment to NASA.
I am not saying he is wrong but until I personally meet one ( an alien) I hold that this chap has lost it.
Craig a great review on the situation

.
Your posts are always interesting and lead me to read a great deal of associated material..usually not that crack pot stuff

...but its hard to miss it sometimes.
I was looking for an article I had read about some folk who are developing the methods for dealing with aliens (I thought it was on science daily )...I was going to post it but cant find it..happily
alex

