Again from the NASA astrobiological website …
Quote:
Question:
Finding life in the Solar System, ie on Mars, doesn't seem very likely any longer. So why not try and plant some life while we're there? The next mission to Mars (MSL/Curiosity) could carry a bunch of different hardy organisms to be spread in different promising locations. Is there any work being done along these lines?
Answer:
I am afraid that astrobiologists would challenge both your statement that finding life on Mars doesn't seem likely, and that we should consider transplanting terrestrial microbes to Mars. While we have not found life yet on Mars, each new piece of information seems to make the presence of life there more likely.
Most recently, the discovery of evidence for liquid brine near the surface (see my answer posted Aug 5, 2011) is the most positive information we have ever had about the potential habitability of the surface of Mars.
Even before this discovery, we had ample reason to expect aquifers of liquid water or brine beneath the martian surface. As long as there is any chance of a native martian biota, we have strong scientific and ethical reasons not to introduce any terrestrial life forms. For decades there have been international agreements to avoid biological contamination of Mars. Rather than intentionally introducing life from planet Earth, we have obligations to carry put our exploration of Mars in ways that minimize the possibility of such “forward contamination” of Mars http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planetary_protection.
David Morrison
Astrobiology Senior Scientist
August 30, 2011
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