|
SUMMARY
|
|
Chyba: Need to explore both.
Farmer: Mars and Europa, but it's not
possible yet.
Jakosky: Mars, because we know more.
|
|
The Search Starts Here
After finding
life in myriad unlikely places on Earth in recent years, scientists now have
a better understanding of where to look for extraterrestrial life. Here, Jack
Farmer studies thermophiles in the mid-1990s in Yellowstone National Park.
Tough critters also survive deep below the ice in Antarctica. Learn More
Photo courtesy
Michael Milstein, Billings Gazette
|
Q: If cost were no
object, what would be your dream destination for an immediate mission to search
for ET?
Chyba: As things stand, we have a robust
ongoing program of Mars exploration but currently no further exploration of
Europa until the next spacecraft arrives there -- and that's unlikely to happen
before 2011 at the earliest. I would like to see a balanced program that puts
Europa and Mars on an equal footing. Mars is closer, but Europa probably
harbors another ocean. We need to explore both.
Farmer: I think it cannot be simply a cost consideration. But with
that caveat, there are two equally compelling and challenging targets -- the
deep subsurface of Mars and Europa. The fact is, neither of these seems
attainable right now, primarily because of technology limitations.
Jakosky: The two places that most clearly meet all of the
requirements that we would set out for supporting an origin or the continued
existence of life are Mars and Europa. While there are other places that might
support life, the case is not nearly as convincing.
Because we understand the
types of environments that have the potential for life more on Mars than on
Europa, I would make that a higher priority. Also, it is not clear that, at any
cost, we understand enough about the Europa environment and its radiation
hazards to mount a mission there.
Next Page: How do we find ET?
advertisement
