[img]http://www.unexplainable.net/brainbox/uploads/1/Curiosity_1.jpg[/img]
[Quote]The wait is finally over. After years of acting tough through years of begging for funding for various programs, NASA has finally declared it official: It's time to find life on Mars. And they are in the final stages of preparing the device for a launch to the red planet in 2011. It's mission is simple: find life on Mars. After years of waiting, this is one big project that may change the world, the solar system, and perhaps our perception of the whole universe if it yields a positive reading in Martian soil.
The device is equipped with state of the art equipment designed to penetrate the surface through use of X-rays, and identify any possible creatures living in the soil. The object is expected to land on the red planet in time for the Mayan calendar to come to an end, but not before enjoying a hopeful and fond farewell from NASA employees who are hoping the days of speculating whether microbial (or larger) life can survive on Mars are long over, and that the new age of robotics will usher in a new age of discovery.
The device will be heavier than Spirit, more advanced than Opportunity, and more resilient than any other craft previously deployed to the Martian surface in terms of both sustainability and simply ability. If the launch is successful, then the device will go a long way toward both studying the surface of Mars and several inches beneath the surface as well. No extraplanetary rover of this scale has ever been designed before, and Curiosity is expected to be the first to truly change the face of science and how we look at other planets. And it will need all six wheels to have their own drive engine to navigate the surface of the red planet during its two year mission. An advanced suspension system will keep instruments onboard well maintained and out of harms way as it navigates rocky rough terrain and attempts to carve out a place for itself.
In 2005 when methane was first detected on the Martian surface, NASA finally received the indication it had been waiting for since its inception. The evidence has been consistently pointing to the possibility of life on Mars ever since. Long thought to be our neighbor the dead red planet, there are now reasons to think that the Martian surface may not only be able to sustain microbial life, but in time with the assistance of considerable research that it could one day be made in the image of Earth itself and harbor in a new age of human colonization. Of course a manned mission to mars, let alone colonies, are several years from now. But the discovery that life could be sustained on the planet in one form or another opens several new doors to researching the alien life forms (even if they are just simple microbes) that we may encounter there. The future of NASA and the human race get ever more exciting each year.[/quote]
Source: [url]http://www.unexplainable.net/NASA/NASA-It-s-Time-to-Look-for-Life-on-Mars.shtml[/url]
This is going to be very interesting!
[QUOTE], but in time with the assistance of considerable research that it could one day be made in the image of Earth itself and harbor in a new age of human colonization. Of course a manned mission to mars, let alone colonies, are several years from now[/QUOTE]
Actual talks of Terraforming, science fiction here we come
Your avatar = my reaction
[editline]10:52AM[/editline]
@OP
:iia:
Microbes. Woop.
Another rover :( We need something that can get down into the Martian cave systems - that's where all the methane has been detected, much deeper then the new rovers x-rays will penetrate. If there is still life on mars it's going to be very deep within these cave systems.
If I am alive and able when the time comes, I would be so up for life as a colonist on Mars.
Finally!
I really hope that this project won't be delayed any further.
It might be of some benefit if they delayed it.
Could test out those VASIMR boosters.
At last, NASA starts doing something OUTSIDE low earth orbit.
About time!
Whilst the tunnel systems are important to explore, and they probably contain massive bacterial colonies/ancient alien ruins/a Shoggoth/all of the above, we should build a Moonbase before we start sending stuff to Mars. It's easier to send stuff from a Moonbase than from a large high-gravity high-atmosphere planet like ours, less fuel's needed.
This is great but I don't really think that they will find anything.
I'm so excited! With the new budget policy, I never expected something like this to happen ever again! :dance:
[QUOTE=ironman17;23400751]Whilst the tunnel systems are important to explore, and they probably contain massive bacterial colonies/ancient alien ruins/a Shoggoth/all of the above, we should build a Moonbase before we start sending stuff to Mars. It's easier to send stuff from a Moonbase than from a large high-gravity high-atmosphere planet like ours, less fuel's needed.[/QUOTE]
That's what I've been saying. Hell, the ISS would work. Just refit it to land on the lunar surface and continue from there. It'd be easier to work on, safer, and more easily modified. Plus, the crew could take a stroll on the moon. Plus, they wouldn't have as severe medical concerns, because they would still be under gravity. Plus, they could do more in-depth research on the moon.
I hope they find a Shoggoth too.
Atlast, we are going to the MOON!!!....wait....Mars?
On a more serious note, its great we are finally going to Mars!
But all the stuff you'd have on the moon would have been sent from earth anyway, no profit there?
Unexplainable.net
[QUOTE=jiggu;23401108]But all the stuff you'd have on the moon would have been sent from earth anyway, no profit there?[/QUOTE]
It'd be worth it for a Springboard to the Stars.
[img]http://www.superherostuff.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/martian-manhunter.jpg[/img]
lets hope they find something like this guy :buddy:
[QUOTE=Xen Tricks;23400136]Actual talks of Terraforming, science fiction here we come[/QUOTE]
Do we get to play god?
If so, fuck yeah.
News in 10 years: NASA finished construction on Death Star to wipe out dangerous life forms on Mars.
i hope they find protean technology.
Prepare to migrate to Mars in 2033
brb, moving to mars.
I doubt there's any life on Mars today, but I guarantee there was at some point.
Even if they can find some fossils, that would be pretty cool.
Fuck Yeah!
I've always wondered what would become of religion if we found alien life. Especially life that is somewhat intelligent.
[QUOTE=Haywood;23401903]I doubt there's any life on Mars today, but I guarantee there was at some point.
Even if they can find some fossils, that would be pretty cool.[/QUOTE]
If they found fossils on Mars, of [B]anything[/B] i would be amazed, even if its like a plant or something.
[QUOTE=coco911231;23401935]If they found fossils on Mars, of [B]anything[/B] i would be amazed, even if its like a plant or something.[/QUOTE]
There was one meteorite called "ALH 84001" where they thought the found fossil life. Although they had no real way to confirm it and most scientist believe it's nothing.
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allan_Hills_84001[/url]
I was kind of hoping they decided to send a Human to mars.
:v:
Wait a minute, they are looking for microbial life, by using X -rays as a type of ground penetrating radar?
Cause the X-rays won't just kill the microbes right?
:smithicide:
But still, looking at terraforming mars, oooohh I'm all giddy now.
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