XPost: sci.space.policy   
   From: jonlennart.beck.god@damn.get2net.that.dk.spam.retro.com   
      
   "R F L Henley"  skrev i en meddelelse   
   news:KcALb.20915$qx2.2293529@stones.force9.net...   
      
   > unless and until we have robotically established conclusively that there   
   > is or is not life on Mars, we can't put humans on the planet because   
   > they will inevitably bio-contaminate it.   
      
      To a degree, I agree.  The absence of life on Mars can never be   
   established conclusively, and certainly not by softlanding a number of   
   robotic probes. There may be subsurface life in a few locations.  But a   
   rather thorough survey by robotic landers may at least conclude that the   
   surface and near-surface of Mars is very probably without life.  Or find it,   
   of course.   
      
   Jon Lennart Beck.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)