There was a NASA press conference on methane on Mars today. http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009...s_Methane.html
They're still not able to say if it's biological or geological, though.
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There was a NASA press conference on methane on Mars today. http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009...s_Methane.html
They're still not able to say if it's biological or geological, though.
Order of Kilopi
I say there is an invisible elf in my backyard. How do you prove that I am wrong?
The Leif Ericson Cruiser
Order of Kilopi
Certain groups in NASA are trying to get funding. Planetary Scientists are making a power grab.
Right now there is Chaos in NASA....
Griffin is leaving:
http://www.nasawatch.com/archives/20...riffin_bi.html
And my worst Nightmare has come true.
A fighter Jock looks to be the New Nasa Chief
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/200..._resident.html
Great. There goes ARES, and now NASA is just another branch of the Air Force.
The Griffin Bashers finally won--and now NASA will be just one underfed branch of the military industrial complex. I hope all you anti-Griffin types are happy.
The Methane on Mars deal is just another grab for NASA money.
Engineers will be on the outs and science only wonks are already fighting for dollars.
Back to the bad old Dan Goldin days. "Faster Better cheaper" is back.
At least Jay Barbree let O'Grief have it with both barrels. Check out http://www.nasawatch.com for more.
As for me, I think I'll jump off a cliff.
Order of Kilopi
Double post
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Are you saying the methane on Mars data is a hoax as part of a scheme for funding?Originally Posted by publiusr
Order of Kilopi
Isn't this how every science fiction movie about Mars starts? Next will come spaceships ...
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Im experienced with having ex-Airofrce guys in charge. The Airforce has organizational issues and has created a paradigm in that is unique even in military circles. Anyway I would be first to agree that having a military mindset in charge may be a disadvantage for NASA. There is a balanace to be struck between a focus on manned exploration providing (military and stategic advantages) and pure science yielding advances in knowledge and technology. In fact purely robotic exploration will yield all the pure science we seek, but will fail to provide the security of having settled humankind outside of "spaceship" earth. Ulitmately the earth is vulnerable and we must move on to survive.
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Wonderful news.
Now, who wants to bet that if there is life, it will be identical to life found on Earth since Mars has had billions of years to get hit with a contaminated meteor blown of off Earth?
Could the Viking probes have contaminated Mars?
Having an ex Airforce guy in charge may be a good thing. In theory, he'll be more aggressive with the other government agencies and get things done.
Order of Kilopi
And exactly how do you justify this bizzare statement?
Jon
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Isn't it ironic that after dozens of fly-by missions, landings, rovers, etc.
in the end it's good old earth-based observation that gives us this definite proof?
Order of Kilopi
Not really. There is still a place for terrestrial observations, for example they are the only way to get synoptic data of Mars at present. A ground based instrument unconstrained by power volume and mass can have sensitivity advantages over a small instrument on a spacecraft.
Ground based instrurments can also be improved much faster that space probes instruments. The PFS on MEx is the same as it ever was. No better instrument is scheduled. The instrument on Keck is likely to have been modified and upgraded in the light of earlier observational camapaigns and data from MEx.
Order of Kilopi
I thought it was interesting that a disconnect between the presumed locations of subsurface water and the methane clouds was perceived to be so mysterious.
Did anyone bother to check the prevailing wind pattern?
Order of Kilopi
Doodler. Good question. pete
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