NASA scientist says possible Martian microbes should be studied

摘要

A future astronaut traipsing across the landing sites of the Mars Exploration Rovers "Spirit and Opportunity" might be squishing into a welcome mat of microbes, according to one NASA scientist. While the twin robots push ahead in scouring their real estate locations at Gusev Crater and Meridiani Planum, they leave behind a tantalizing trail of issues that need to be sorted out. One big unknown: did life ever take root on Mars? And if so, is that planet home to living organisms today? So far, the life-on-Mars card has not played out. Rover scientists have seen nothing they regard as needing a biological explanation. But the twin robot landers weren't built to prowl around for life.