03-27-2004, 02:41 AM
Hi,
Well, thanks for the link.
After testing whether terrestrial organisms can survive simulated Martian conditions and the procedures used to sterilise spacecraft, he reckons there is a good chance some made it to Mars and might still be living there.
Yeah, right. That's a far cry from "we've contaminated Mars." And considering "He has been granted funding from NASA's planetary protection office to help develop better sterilisation techniques for future missions.", I'm sure he is totally impartial. After all, the best way to get funding from a government agency is to go in and say, "There's absolutely nothing wrong with your procedures, but I'd like you to fund me to develop better ones anyway."
I played that game for fifteen years. And played it badly, because I just couldn't force myself to exaggerate. I've reviewed hundreds of research proposals, and if half of what I'd read was true, judgment day happened last week.
But thanks for the topic :)
--Pete
Well, thanks for the link.
After testing whether terrestrial organisms can survive simulated Martian conditions and the procedures used to sterilise spacecraft, he reckons there is a good chance some made it to Mars and might still be living there.
Yeah, right. That's a far cry from "we've contaminated Mars." And considering "He has been granted funding from NASA's planetary protection office to help develop better sterilisation techniques for future missions.", I'm sure he is totally impartial. After all, the best way to get funding from a government agency is to go in and say, "There's absolutely nothing wrong with your procedures, but I'd like you to fund me to develop better ones anyway."
I played that game for fifteen years. And played it badly, because I just couldn't force myself to exaggerate. I've reviewed hundreds of research proposals, and if half of what I'd read was true, judgment day happened last week.
But thanks for the topic :)
--Pete
How big was the aquarium in Noah's ark?