Hi, I found this an interesting thread and it got me thinking about the various crafts we send to other planets (ie Mars). I cannot see how one can practically completely 100% sterilise the Mars Rovers - surely any methods required to perform an efficient sterilysis would damage the delicate components - one cannot irradiate thoroughly - it would affect any polymers (at least) used in the construction, nor could one pump it full of ethylene dioxide, or whatever they use as I cannot see that being particularly healthy for the systems... so how is it done? Have we not contaminated Mars with our organic debris already?
When I have seen images of the construction of various crafts in the clean rooms - it always amazes me that the engineers, whilst garbed in hats and facemasks, still have quite a percentage of skin showing - which must shed flakes and bugs into the environment. What are the implications then of a Rover 'discovering' signs of life on another world? Can we determine that this material was not just a passenger on Rover and that all we are looking at is our own dirt?! Interesting.... dave IMCA #0092 ______________________________________________ Meteorite-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
